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Light Rails Zap Scales? Sound Transit Investigates Dead Fish
Biologists are sampling water and soil as crews raise anode cables and investigate whether the system’s stray current killed mostly non-native fish.
On Thursday, Sound Transit disclosed that stray electric current from the I-90 floating bridge is suspected of killing an estimated 2,000 fish in Lake Washington.
The fish deaths appear concentrated near anode strings, which are part of a cathodic protection system designed to divert stray current and prevent corrosion on the bridge's metal pontoons.
By August 23, crews had raised 32 anode cables that were resting on the lakebed to resolve the issue, though initial findings show mostly non-native perch or bass among the dead.
WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith emphasized the crossing remains safe for the public, while Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine confirmed the agency is coordinating with environmental agencies and Tribal fisheries managers.
Sound Transit expects to determine the root cause in the coming weeks and hopes to begin implementing a permanent solution as monitoring of the area around the floating bridge continues.