Iowa cold results in fish kill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources
is forecasting a major die-off of fish as the ice covering the
state's lakes, ponds and streams melt.
Natural resources officials say the sudden onset of ice this
winter, followed by a parade of snow storms, blocked sunlight and
capped the water's oxygen level.
Fisheries Bureau chief Joe Larscheid says having a winter kill
is not unusual. He says it usually only affects a portion of the
fish population and the fish that remain will grow quickly.
According to Larscheid, the extent of a die off will not be
fully known until later this spring or summer when fisheries
biologists will conduct their annual fish population surveys.
Larscheid says there are some benefits to fish kills. He says
the dead fish will be a major source of food for channel catfish.
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