Post by LSDeep on Aug 5, 2005 20:16:15 GMT -5
From the sky, a sea of white is covering the mouth of the Colorado River. Upon closer look, you'll see dead fish – millions of them.
"Unbelievable if you haven't seen it before," said Matagorda County Commissioner George Deshotel.
The stunning images of devastation run for miles. It's one of the largest fish kills people in the town of Matagorda have seen in years.
Ronnie Dodd runs a spring bridge and watched dozens of fish die from his perch.
"The flounder were trying to get to the side of the edge of the bank and trying to come up and get air," he told us.
Surprisingly, this is a natural event caused by stagnant water and little wind, rain, or flow.
"Millions of these menhaden come in from the Gulf into the Colorado River and because of low tidal action and low wind action, there's nothing to replenish the oxygen in the water," said Deshotel.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is closely monitoring the situation.
"It'll run its course, and when it's done, it's done," said Bill Balboa with Texas Parks and Wildlife. "It may happen again, but it happens all up and down the coast."
But for now, Matagoda is the worst place...a place with a community that depends on the fish that are quickly dying.
The fish began dying a few days ago. If the menhaden keep coming in and the conditions don't change, more can die. And that's not good news for the local economy.
Back in 1995, there was a similar situation. Then, 60 million fish turned up dead. If you see dead fish, shrimp or crabs, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 24-hour hotline. That number is 512-389-4848.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)
"Unbelievable if you haven't seen it before," said Matagorda County Commissioner George Deshotel.
The stunning images of devastation run for miles. It's one of the largest fish kills people in the town of Matagorda have seen in years.
Ronnie Dodd runs a spring bridge and watched dozens of fish die from his perch.
"The flounder were trying to get to the side of the edge of the bank and trying to come up and get air," he told us.
Surprisingly, this is a natural event caused by stagnant water and little wind, rain, or flow.
"Millions of these menhaden come in from the Gulf into the Colorado River and because of low tidal action and low wind action, there's nothing to replenish the oxygen in the water," said Deshotel.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is closely monitoring the situation.
"It'll run its course, and when it's done, it's done," said Bill Balboa with Texas Parks and Wildlife. "It may happen again, but it happens all up and down the coast."
But for now, Matagoda is the worst place...a place with a community that depends on the fish that are quickly dying.
The fish began dying a few days ago. If the menhaden keep coming in and the conditions don't change, more can die. And that's not good news for the local economy.
Back in 1995, there was a similar situation. Then, 60 million fish turned up dead. If you see dead fish, shrimp or crabs, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 24-hour hotline. That number is 512-389-4848.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)