Fish Kill at Silver Lake in Delhi

An intense algae bloom this past week has led to a fish kill at Silver Lake in Delhi.

Residents walking along the lake started noticing the dead fish on Monday morning. 

DNR Fisheries Biologist Dan Kirby says the algae bloom, combined with this week’s hot and humid conditions, have caused low oxygen conditions and fish mortality – commonly referred to as a “summer kill”. Silver Lake has a history of summer kill, but it’s been a number of years since it last occurred.

Though some fish in Silver Lake have survived, the dead fish are in the thousands – they include bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike. 

The DNR will be monitoring the situation the rest of the week.

photos courtesy of Dani Burke/KMCH