Search for remaining Dunkard fish finds only one at Mason-Dixon Park
October 19, 2009 ·
West Virginia DNR search for remaining fish in Dunkard Creek turned up only one white sucker at a site in Mason-Dixon Historical Park.
On Monday, DNR biologists searched areas of Dunkard Creek for any remaining live fish.
Last month dead fish, mussels and salamanders started appearing on the creek banks. Since then thousands of fish and the streams entire mussel population have died.
The West Virginia DEP says golden algae was the main culprit, but the agency continues to investigate the role mining activities might have played.
Mine drainage from Consol’s Blacksville coal mine contained high levels of chloride, which environmental officials in Pennsylvania say caused the golden algae to spread and kill the aquatic life.
DNR Biologist Frank Jernejcic took a fish count Monday to see if any fish remain alive.
He used a generator to produce an electrical current that shocked any fish remaining in the creek.
DNR personnel use nets to scoop up any fish that float to the surface.