Popular lake closed after thousands of fish die shocking video reveals them floating on surface
A view to a fish-kill.A popular angling lake in Arizona has been shuttered indefinitely over safety concerns after a biblical fish kill left it clogged with fish carcasses, as seen in appalling footage.The mass die-off wiped out 100% of the fish population in San Carlos Lake, a man-made water body located approximately 125 miles east of Phoenix.
According to an advisory by the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department, the kill was the result of prolonged drought conditions compounded by the release of water from the nearby Coolidge Dam to irrigate nearby communities.Years of dry conditions coupled with the lack of a winter snowpack had caused the water body’s level to drop to 400 acre-feet — the lowest in years, per a report by Pinal Central.Shallow, stagnant water contains less oxygen, making it harder for fish to thrive.Low water levels can also facilitate rampant algae blooms, which further deplete the oxygen in the water, accelerating the die-offs, KTAR News reported.Ghastly videos show a mass raft of fish bodies bunched up like grisly lilypads in shallow green-brown water near the shores of San Carlos, the Gila Herald reported.Officials say that the decomposing carcasses could pose “health risks to individuals who enter the area or attempt to fish.”For the health and safety of the public, they’ve prohibited visitors from fishing, harvesting or possessing fish from the lake, or any other angling-related activities for the foreseeable future.“We ask all visitors to respect the closure and avoid the affected area for their safety,” wrote the wildlife authorities, who pledged to continue monitoring San Carlos’ conditions and “provide updates as they become available.”Boasting over 158 miles of shoreline, San Carlos had been a popular destination among anglers due to its thriving populations of largemouth bass, trout, black crappie and other popular game species.
It even produced some of Arizona’s largest catches, including a 72-pound fl...