Another Sign of the (Heat) Times: Thousands of Dead Fish
In lakes and rivers across parched areas of the U.S., heat and lower water levels are reducing oxygen levels — and killing fish populations by the thousands.
At one lake in Delaware, up to 6,000 dead gizzard shad and 600 perch were found floating this week.
“Aggravating this summertime problem, increased temperatures lead to warmer water, which holds less dissolved oxygen,” state natural resources spokesman John Clark told NBCPhiladelphia.com.
In South Carolina, some 500 fish died at Lake Hartwell.
“It started Sunday afternoon,” local resident Brandi Pierce told NBC affiliate WYFF-TV. “We started seeing ten fish popping up out of the water. Then Monday, it was full.”