Forage Fish Returning to Dunkard Creek

DNR says it could be another year before recovery is complete

Morgantown Dominion Post
28 July 2010
By Alex Lang

A recent survey of fish in Dunkard Creek has shown that species of forage fish are reappearing in the stream as it recovers nearly a year after a massive fish kill.

Frank Jernejcic, District 1 fisheries biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), said that last week’s survey showed at least 25 different fish species in the stream. Most of the fish are forage — or fish larger fish eat, he said.

But the total number of fish hasn’t increased, and some fish species haven’t returned.

“We didn’t find any large fish,” Jernejcic said.

Jernejcic estimated that it will take until next spring for the larger fish start to return to the waterway.

Most of the marine life in Dunkard Creek was wiped out during a massive fish kill in September 2009. The fish died after a toxin was released during an algal bloom. The algae bloomed because of elevated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels in the stream. The investigation into the elevated TDS levels focused on discharge from CONSOL-owned Blacksville No. 2 coal mine.

Jernejcic said he has studied other fish kills and 95 percent of the fish species return after two years. It takes a bit longer for the total number of fish to return to previous levels.

The fish found in the survey could have moved into Dunkard from its tributaries or might have survived the kill, but officials don’t know, Jernejcic said.

Currently, the DNR doesn’t have plans to restock the creek, but it will continue to monitor the stream.

Barry Pallay, vice president of the Upper Monongahela River Association (UMRA), said the results show the early signs of recovery, but his group is being cautious.

“UMRA is pleased that there are signs of life in Dunkard Creek,” he said.

But there are concerns with low flows in many local streams, Pallay said. The group is concerned that there could be an accidental high TDS discharge that could pose additional problems during low flow.

Pallay said the group is pleased that the fish are returning, but he knows it will take time before the stream returns to normal.

Eventually, the stream should return to its previous state, Jernejcic said.

No one knows if the recent warmer temperatures will lead to a second algae bloom, Jernejcic said. He added it’s not predictable because few people have experience with algae in this area. The algae becomes dangerous when the water temperature rises above a certain point.

The departments involved are hopeful that conditions will remain favorable now that CONSOL is limited on when and what it can discharge into the stream, Jernejcic said.