DNR: ‘Normal' winter could lead to more fish kills during spring thaw
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — There are some pros and cons to spring. It is often rainy and muddy and snow can still sneak out of nowhere to steal away the sunshine. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is warning people of another natural, yet unsavory part of spring: .
Unlike recent ones, the DNR says Michigan had a 'more normal' winter this year — 'more cold days and near-average snow fall across the state.' Because of that, you may notice more dead fish than usual.
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'Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill,' DNR Fish Production Program manager Aaron Switzer . 'It can be particularly common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals during seasonal changes. It's a natural phenomenon, and these kills are localized. They typically do not affect the overall health of fish populations or fishing quality.'
Nutrient runoff and excess road pollution can lead to more fish kills in urban areas, especially after large storms. Shallow lakes with soft bottoms are also more prone to winterkills, especially when deep snowpack reduces sunlight for the lake's plants.
'Fish and all forms of aquatic life need dissolved oxygen to survive,' the DNR says. 'When ice and snow cover reduce the daylight that reaches the water depths, aquatic plants stop producing oxygen, and many die.
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'Bacteria use the remaining oxygen in the water to decompose the dead plants and other organic materials on the lake bottom. With available oxygen reduced, more aquatic animals die and start to break down, speeding up the rate that oxygen is used for decomposition.'
The fish kills may not necessarily happen in the spring, but older ones often aren't discovered until the spring.
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'If you see dead fish as a result of winterkill, the fish may appear fuzzy. This is because of secondary infection by fungus, but the fungus was not the cause of death,' Switzer said.
Residents can report fish kills to the DNR through the agency's website. If you suspect a fish kill is due to nonnatural causes, call the nearest DNR office.
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