Fish Kill and Fish Health Timeline
May 2002 - A fish kill, predominately smallmouth bass, was reported in the South Branch of the Potomac River. Fish from the South Branch were collected by the DNR in June 2002 and sent to the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service Northeast Fishery Center in Lamar, Pa. The report from the Northeast Fishery Center indicated the presence of a common bacterium affecting the gills and skin of the fish, but the cause of death was not determined.
August 2002 - Fish collected by WVDNR in August 2002 were analyzed by the United States Geologic Survey Leetown Fish Health Center and the Auburn University Fish Health Laboratory. The Leetown Fish Health Center reported the presence of a common opportunistic bacterium, external parasites, and the relatively unhealthy appearance of internal organs. According to the Leetown Fish Health Center, the condition of the fish indicated that they may have experienced environmental stress, but there was not enough evidence to determine a specific cause. Auburn University analyzed the fish for black bass virus and reported it was not present.
Spring Summer and Fall 2002 - WVDNR and USGS-BRD collected smallmouth bass during spring pre-spawn, summer post-spawn, and fall recrudescence periods. Water samples collected during these site visits are being analyzed by Dr. Martha Wells of Tennessee Tech University under a contract with WVDNR., began an integrated sampling project examining traditional water samples and extracts from passive sampling devices. These devices, semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and polar organic
January 2003 - This month an interagency group met to discuss the problem of reported fish kills and the decline of the smallmouth bass fishery in the South Branch. The WV Division of Natural Resources, WV Department of Environmental Protection, WV Department of Agriculture, US Geological Survey, US Environmental Protection Agency developed a study plan for 2003 with USEPA/WVDEP responsible for temperature monitors, WVDNR/USGS responsible for biological surveys, and the WVDA responsible for water chemistries.
July 2003 - WVDNR collected smallmouth bass from 7 sites in the South Branch of the Potomac, 1 site in the Lost River drainage, 1 site in the North River and 1 site on the Cacapon. South Branch sites included Indian Rock and Blue Beach Bridge above Romney, Wapacoma Campground below Romney, Old Field Bridge above Moorefield, Fisher Bridge below Moorefield, Petersburg Gap above Petersburg andPetersburg below Petersburg. Fish collections were made by Divison of Natural Resources and fishtissue analyses were conducted by Dr. Vicki Blazer, fish histopatholgist with the USGS-BRD Leetown Fish Health Center. Water quality sampling was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, West Virginia Department of Agriculture and WVDEP.
April and July of 2004 -The Division of Natural Resources collected smallmouth bass during this time period. In October, largemouth bass samples were collected. Maryland and West Virginia officials collected suckers for analysis in December. While the 2004 intersex results are not fully completed, intersex is still being observed in smallmouth bass, has not been seen in suckers, and is occurring at a lower rate in largemouth bass.
[NOTE: 2004 DEP Press Release can be seen at: http://www.wvdep.org/Docs/5054_potomac.fish.monitoring.pdf]
West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Community Health Department and the West Virginia Cancer Registry have been investigating a suspected Cancer Cluster in Hardy County, WV. Their findings indicate that the overall cancer rate in Hardy County is at or slightly below the West Virginia incidence rate. However, for cancers of organs/organ systems considered estrogen-sensitive, brain, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, uterus, and ovaries, the rate is higher and the age of diagnosis is lower.
May 2006 - Fish kill in South Branch of the Potomac reported, primarily golden redhorse suckers. Location from Petersburg downstream, heaviest kill apparently downstream of Moorefield through to Blue Beach below Romney. Cause of death undetermined, not known if due to environmental causes or spawning stress.
September 2006 - EPA, Virginia and West Virginia sponsored a workshop related to the Shenandoah and South Branch of the Potomac Rivers fish kill investigations on September 20-21, 2006 at West Virginia's Cacapon State Park. Investigators from both states, universities , EPA and USGS presented and discussed a variety of information related to the fish kills and intersex. Data/information for EPA's Causal Analysis/ Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) was also solicited.
For more information go to www.wvdep.org/dwwm/fishkill.
October 6, 2006 - The United States House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform held a hearing "Ova-Pollution in the Potomac: Egg-Bearing Male Bass and Implications for Human and Ecological Health." Numerous presentations were made including ones from USGS, the Potomac Riverkeeper, and ICPRB (see below.)
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) information is available at
http://www.chesapeake.usgs.gov/feature/fishhealthWWWfeature.pdf
Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield's testimony can be read at http://www.potomacriverkeeper.org/.
The Interstate Commission on the the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) testimony by Executive Director Joseph Hoffman is covered in the Sept./Oct. 2006 issue of the Potomac Basin Reporter. Go to http://www.potomacrver.org/
October 25, 2006 - The second annual meeting of the Potomac Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP formed n 2004) included presentations on emerging contaminants such as endocrine disrupting chemcals like pharmaceutcals used in medicine and agriculture, personal care products and other chemicals. One specifically addressed the question of cancer in a study done Hardy County WV. (See the Health Secton of the website.) For more information go to the Interstate Commission on the the Potomac River Basin at http://www.potomacriver.org/. |
