DNR investigating fish deaths in south central Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are investigating fish death events in two different locations in south central Wisconsin.

The first is in Buffalo Lake Watershed in Marquette, Green Lake, and Columbia Counites. The second is on the Yahara River in Stoughton.

On Buffalo Lake, a large number of dead fish were reported to the DNR on July 10. The DNR began investigating on July 11. Fish biologists sampled multiple locations throughout more than 400 mile watershed and confirmed low dissolved oxygen levels across the water basin and some tributaries.

Dissolved oxygen levels can result from a combination of natural processes and environmental conditions including heavy, repeated rainfall that carries organic materials from wetlands, agricultural fields and other types of land use to the watershed.

DNR staff continue to monitor oxygen levels throughout the Buffalo Lake Watershed and additional sampling will occur over the next several days.

DNR staff are also gathering data on a reported fish death in Stoughton on the Yahara River, and no further information was made available.

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