Fish Kill Results Deep Creek Lake. Well, there have been a lot of people locally concerned about the recent fish kill here on Deep Creek Lake, and rightfully so. There have been many different stories about the cause of the kill and the health of the lake. I spend a lot of time in the lake and have never been given any signs that the lake is polluted or contaminated in any way, shape or form. I have been waiting to hear facts about the fish kill before raising any concerns or judgments.
Thankfully, it looks like the scientists have found the culprit to be the recent hot weather that we’ve been experiencing this summer. The Maryland State Department of the Environment said Thursday that high air temperatures this month warmed the lake’s surface and created ideal conditions for an infestation of parasitic microorganisms that affect the gills of certain cold-water fish.
The agency said the fish kill is affecting mainly cold-water species such as yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
Environmental regulators and the state Department of Natural Resources are still collecting and analyzing water and fish samples.
