Here's why hundreds of dead fish are washing up at Echo Lake
Dead fish have been washing up on shore at Echo Lake, and other lakes in the Qu’Appelle Valley.
Residents told CTV News dead carp began to appear on the shore roughly two weeks ago, but has become a bigger problem in recent days.
“Depending on who you talk to almost everyone has pulled out at least a couple dozen from their property,” Steve Sunquist, B-Say-Tah cottage owner, said.
Sunquist said he has pulled carp, some as long as three feet, off his property.
Experts believe the significant number of fish washing up on local shores can be attributed to higher than normal temperatures.
“Water gets warmer and it holds less oxygen so there is less for the fish to breathe,” Peter Leavitt, Canada research chair at the University of Regina said. “As it gets warmer, fish respiration, how they process their energy also goes up. So not only do the fish have less oxygen, but they need more so that’s where they get into a pinch in the warm water.”
A provincial biologist said the sight of dead carp on shorelines is an annual occurrence, a shocking one – given carp can survive on little to no oxygen.
“The situation in the southern lakes is going to get worse,” Gord Sedgewick, fisheries biologist for the Ministry of Environment, said.
“We’re going to have more areas of warm water and less areas of deep cold water. I think we are going to see some adverse effects especially on the Qu’Appelle lakes in the future.”
Some say the smell is the worst part, with dead fish, algae and increased temperatures culminating in an unpleasant odor. Despite this, Sedgewick said he does not see any concern with eating fresh fish from the lakes.
“Make sure your septic tanks don’t leak into the water,” he said. “Anything we can do to reduce the nutrient load in these systems is a good thing. If we have more heat, we won’t be able to do much about it.”
The province said it will not handle cleanup of the fish around the Qu’Appelle Valley. Cottage owners, and in some areas park staff, will be in charge of cleaning up the fish.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.