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Fish kill near Cowichan Lake prompts investigation into possible roof-moss runoff
Investigators say the deaths matched a Flava bacterium linked to roof moss, and 31 samples were collected while lab results are pending.
- On Thursday, Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society and Hatchery president Bob Crandall discovered dead juvenile salmonids in Oliver Creek, with investigation revealing no dead fish upstream of a local condominium subdivision's stormwater outfall.
- Triggered when roof moss treatments washed into the stream, Crandall believes the deaths stem from a Flavobacteria infection, which thrives on roof moss in temperatures between 11 degrees and 15 degrees Celsius.
- Crandall collected 31 samples over 18 metres of the stream and found healthy fish swimming 200 metres downstream, while also identifying similar fish kills in 2011 and 2015.
- After a resident contacted Crandall regarding treatment precautions, he suggested contractors bag wastewater for later disposal on lawns rather than allowing it to reach fish-bearing waters.
- As more roofs are scheduled for demossing in the coming weeks, the investigation has taken on greater urgency, with Crandall stating that if contractors cannot protect the stream, "the work should stop.
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Cowichan Valley Citizen+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Fish kill near Cowichan Lake prompts investigation into possible roof-moss runoff
Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society and Hatchery president Bob Crandall was walking along Oliver Creek at about 4 p.m. Oct. 1 when he noticed something was wrong. Dead juvenile salmonids […]
·Duncan, Canada
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Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Left
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- 100% of the sources lean Left
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