琉璃神社

Skip to content

Government scientists can鈥檛 explain dead fish on Kootenay Lake shores

Bacteria, viruses, warm temperature and oxygen deficiency ruled out
33766675_web1_230907-KWS-DeadFish-fish_1
A dead fish on the shore of Kootenay Lake on July 25, 2023. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Provincial government scientists have been unable to determine why an unusual number of appeared on the shores of Kootenay Lake over several weeks in July.

鈥漈he positive news is that there were no pathogenic bacteria or viruses found,鈥 the Ministry of Forests told the Nelson Star in an email.

鈥淗owever, the results leave us without definitive answers as previous tests ruled out potential causes such as water temperature or oxygen deficiencies.鈥

Following social media reports of dead fish along the lake shore near Nelson, a long-time resident on July 24 that he had never before seen such a concentration of dead fish in his lifetime.

The government email said no further tests would be done now, and that the ministry is monitoring the situation.

READ MORE:

bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
Sign up for the Nelson Star鈥檚 newsletter to have local stories delivered straight to your inbox every morning.



Bill Metcalfe

About the Author: Bill Metcalfe

I have lived in Nelson since 1994 and worked as a reporter at the Nelson Star since 2015.
Read more



(or

琉璃神社

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }
Pop-up banner image