Fish Kill on the Neuse River

2003 Neuse River Fish Kill

Some bad news coming in from the Neuse River over the last few days. Larry Baldwin, the Riverkeeper for the lower Neuse River, and the NC Division of Water Quality are reporting at least 3.5 million fish have died in the Neuse since last Thursday due low oxygen levels. Menhaden, flounder, and even crabs have been washing up on shore.

A confluence of factors, including rain, heat, algae and an upwelling choked oxygen out of the river from Flanners Beach downstream to Slocum Creek, Susan Massengale, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Division of Water Quality, said Friday.

Here are a few links for further information. This paddle down the Neuse River may get interesting in a hurry if this keeps up. I’ll be monitoring and documenting the river as I go down, and will post photos and video as I go down. Make sure to subscribe to the website for free email or RSS updates.

http://news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/613672/scientists-look-into-issue-of-millions-of-fish-deaths-in-neuse/

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/53931942.html

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/fish-47433-river-kill.html