PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Thursday was a quiet day on the Susquehanna River, which might have to do with the brutal heat.
The water, and the fish in it, are feeling the impact of another heat wave too.
“Our small mouth bass, our catfish, our sunfish, those fish will do well, those are warm water fish and they’ll acclimate, but we do have issues when we have rapid changes in water temperature," said Mike Parker, communications director for the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
That rapid change could come in the form of a thunderstorm rolling through and quickly cooling the warmer water.
“Combined with other stressors on fish, like they were recently spawning, that kind of physical stress can lead to fish perishing in the water," said Parker.
Parker says the agency hasn't seen any serious issues so far this year.
But when the temperatures get warmer, anglers may see fish congregating in certain areas of cooler water. He says they are seeking thermal refuge.
“Understand ethically, you probably want to walk away from that area and come back at a time it’s a little bit more sporting," said Parker.
Warmer water also sparks growth of aquatic plants, which compete with fish for oxygen.
“If the plants are taking too much oxygen and the fish are hanging out in that area, all of a sudden you might see a few dead fish along the shoreline," added Parker.
As the earth gets warmer, Parker explains there are things being done to protect the water and the aquatic species that live in it, one of which is preserving the vegetation that is along our waterways.
“Not only does that keep the water temperature cooler, but it’s also preventing pollution from running down into the stream directly and it’s also keeping our stream banks together which keeps the erosion from going downstream," he said.
If you see dead fish, the Fish & Boat Commission has a hotline you can call to report sightings. It's 1-855-347-4545 (855-Fish-Kil).
