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JONESBORO – A lack of oxygen in rain runoff water is responsible for fish kills in several areas, said staff members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
The naturally occurring phenomenon took place when heavy rains Oct. 7, 8 and 9 followed a long period of drought.
Sam Barkley of Jonesboro, district fisheries biologist with the Game and Fish Commission, explained the situation: "Stagnant water that had been standing in the soybean and rice fields was flushed out by the rain. No chemical contamination is involved. The fish kill is due to the decaying vegetation and stagnant water situation that causes such a high biological oxygen demand.
"The water bodies cannot react fast enough to reverse the low oxygen contained in the runoff, and as a result fish are stressed to the point many may die. Typically, the incoming water is black in color. Some fish may recover and survive as the black water is diluted in the larger river systems, but for some it is too late."
Nick Nixson of the ADEQ said fish kills were occurring in Ditches 17, 19, 20, 24 and 28 in Clay County in addition to some ditches flowing into the L^Anguille and Cache rivers in Poinsett County. His water chemistry showed that the oxygen concentration at these areas was nearly zero.
AGFC Enforcement Supervisor Wayne Bomar reported fish struggling for oxygen in Mayo Ditch that flows into the St. Francis River. Wildlife Officer Bill Buck observed the same situation in drainage ditches in Clay County. And a fisherman reported a small raft of dead fish floating down the St. Francis River in the vicinity of the Iron Bridge Access near Trumann.
AGFC Fisheries Biologist Jeff Farwick said similar Reports have been received from Bayou Meto, Big Creek, L^Anguille, St. Francis and some watershed ponds that receive drainage from rice and soybean farming operations.
Barkley pointed out that this natural phenomenon resulted from the unpredictability of rainfall, and no chemical agent is responsible.
The recent fish kills are not as extensive as one that took place on the Black River in 1992 under similar climate conditions, Barkley said.
Uploaded: 10/16/1999
Uploaded: 10/16/1999