Post by baycitydan on Jun 6, 2007 9:59:36 GMT -4
This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but apparently it's natural for 7,000 fish to turn up dead from time to time, making Baltimore smell worse than usual. They aren't saying this, but I'm sure that the sewage plant that goes into the harbor has something to do with it.
Can this sort of thing happen here?
From the Baltimore Sun
Thousands of dead fish, algae foul harbor air
7,000 fish died after oxygen levels on water's surface were depleted
By Nicole Fuller and Anica Butler
Sun Reporters
June 5, 2007, 9:09 AM EDT
Thousands of dead fish along with decomposing algae are causing a malodorous stench to emanate from the Inner Harbor and the waters off Canton.
The stink -- and the dead fish -- are the result of an algae bloom, or a "Brown Tide." State environmental officials have been investigating the fish kill since Sunday.
"The bottom line is, there is no dissolved oxygen in the water column," said Charles Poukish, environmental program manager for the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Poukish said that in the nutrient-rich harbor, there was a recent large bloom of microscopic algae that turned the water rust-brown. When water temperatures reached more than 70 degrees this weekend, the algae died. As it decomposed, it depleted the oxygen on the surface of the water, causing
the death of at least 7,000 fish, Poukish said.
"It's a pretty strong stench," he said.
Of the more than 7,000 fish that died, most of them were Atlantic menhaden, although pumpkinseed sunfish, Atlantic croaker, American eel and white perch are also among the dead.
Those who live and work near the harbor agree.
"This is very odd. I work in this area and I've never seen these fish dead," said Michael Byrd, a maintenance worker for the city department of public works. "Even before I saw the fish, I said, 'What's that smell?' It's unbearable.''
Ken Harper, who has lived in Fells Point since 1992, was taking a walk along Thames Street this morning when he noticed the smell. "Those dead fish and the fish odor are not normal," he said.
Poukish said that the city has been cleaning up the dead fish, but that it could take a week or two for the smell to diminish and the water to return to normal.
Can this sort of thing happen here?
From the Baltimore Sun
Thousands of dead fish, algae foul harbor air
7,000 fish died after oxygen levels on water's surface were depleted
By Nicole Fuller and Anica Butler
Sun Reporters
June 5, 2007, 9:09 AM EDT
Thousands of dead fish along with decomposing algae are causing a malodorous stench to emanate from the Inner Harbor and the waters off Canton.
The stink -- and the dead fish -- are the result of an algae bloom, or a "Brown Tide." State environmental officials have been investigating the fish kill since Sunday.
"The bottom line is, there is no dissolved oxygen in the water column," said Charles Poukish, environmental program manager for the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Poukish said that in the nutrient-rich harbor, there was a recent large bloom of microscopic algae that turned the water rust-brown. When water temperatures reached more than 70 degrees this weekend, the algae died. As it decomposed, it depleted the oxygen on the surface of the water, causing
the death of at least 7,000 fish, Poukish said.
"It's a pretty strong stench," he said.
Of the more than 7,000 fish that died, most of them were Atlantic menhaden, although pumpkinseed sunfish, Atlantic croaker, American eel and white perch are also among the dead.
Those who live and work near the harbor agree.
"This is very odd. I work in this area and I've never seen these fish dead," said Michael Byrd, a maintenance worker for the city department of public works. "Even before I saw the fish, I said, 'What's that smell?' It's unbearable.''
Ken Harper, who has lived in Fells Point since 1992, was taking a walk along Thames Street this morning when he noticed the smell. "Those dead fish and the fish odor are not normal," he said.
Poukish said that the city has been cleaning up the dead fish, but that it could take a week or two for the smell to diminish and the water to return to normal.