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Dominion Power work results in fish kill |
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| By Maurice Emery Editor Emeritus |
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In a situation where you might say that bad things happen even when good things are trying to be done Dominion Power has reported that there was a fish kill in Lake Gaston during the week of June 18 to June 22. The final report of the total number of fish killed is approximately 4,400. The fish kill was in an area known as the Lake Gaston Water Fowl Management Area on the northwest end of the lake, by Route 1, close to what is known as the steel bridge. The kill was a result of the fish being trapped in an area too small to support the number of fish in the area. They died because of low dissolved oxygen in the water. At the time of the accident Dominion Power was fulfilling part of one of the requirements directed by the FERC re-licensing. In that order Dominion was required to "construct a water control structure(s) adjacent to Lake Gaston to provide waterfowl habitat." As required by the agreement the project was a joint effort with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VADGIF), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Ducks Unlimited. According to Dan Genest, a Dominion Power spokesman, work crews from VADGIF, USFWS and Ducks Unlimited had completed a cofferdam to lower the water to work on developing the required wetland area. They had shocked over 10,000 fish and moved them into the main lake. After thinking they had removed most of the fish they started to drawdown the water level. It was after that the fish kill occurred. Shaver said the number of fish in the area surprised them. At the time we talked he estimated that about 5,000 fish were killed. He then went on to say that the method they use to determine the number of fish killed is not an exact one. Original reported estimates of the first fish killed ranged from 3,000 up to 20,000. Even with the disparity of the numbers they are still calling it a large fish kill. According to Mike Shaver, regional biologist for Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), South Central Regional Office, there has not been a larger fish kill in this region. The disparity in the numbers of fish killed may be due to how they determine the numbers. They use what is known as the bucket method where they fill several buckets of fish and then count them to get an average per bucket. After that they count the number of buckets of fish they have taken out. The investigation by VADEQ is continuing. When the investigation is complete they will determine how many fish have to be replaced for those killed. It could take a while to actually get the new fish in the lake. The VADEQ representative was unsure what the exact procedure would be but it does require getting approval from the state. Chances are the replacement fish will be fingerlings. As noted the fish kill was a result of lower dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Once the oxygen level in the water becomes inadequate for the number of fish in the area they can die off fairly quickly, sometimes within hours. Once the fish die in the water they end up floating on top in the hot sun. From the reports it looked like a carpet of fish lying on the top of the water. The dead fish smell filled the air. According to Genest the agencies involved as well as the power company had the fish removed and the water back to normal in a few days. The work on the estimated 114-acre wetlands was not stopped. When they went back into the area to continue the work they found several long nose gar still in the area. It is estimated that the work will be completed by the fall migratory season. The cost of establishing the wetlands is paid by Dominion and the other agencies and organizations working on the area. Dominion will contribute $1 for each $1.50 the others donate. Dominions contribution will be topped out at $100,000 or the cost of the project, which ever is lower. The $100,000 will be adjusted by the CPI (Consumer Price Index) with 2002 as the base year. |
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| Jul 4, 2007 | ||
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