The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a recent fish kill at Carroll County’s Swan Lake. DNR Fisheries Biologist Ben Wallace, who is stationed out of the Lake View office, says officials were notified on Monday morning.
According to Wallace, there were scattered reports of dead fish in the water around Friday and Saturday, but the kill did not escalate until late Sunday or early Monday.
Wallace adds there were a few reports of crappie, bass, and catfish deaths, but not in numbers that are concerning for Swan Lake’s populations. As for the cause, Wallace says the DNR is still investigating, but he is confident this was a natural occurrence.
Wallace adds he has every reason to believe Swan Lake will bounce back quickly. He notes the last significant fish kill at Swan Lake was in 2015, also due to low dissolved oxygen levels, but from a very different source.
Visitors to the lake are asked not to touch or disturb any dead fish they may encounter on the water or along the shore.
