Biologists say low oxygen levels spurred fish kill at Northeast Texas power plant lake

Biologists say low oxygen levels spurred fish kill at Northeast Texas power plant lake Matt Williams Outdoors Writer Wed, 07/17/2024 - 06:05 Image

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Several videos recently surfaced on social media depicting a significant number of dead fish, including dozens of largemouth bass, floating dead or struggling near the surface around hydrilla beds and lily pad stands at Lake Welsh, a 1,269- acre power plant lake in Titus County. Several of the bass look to be in the 6-8 pound range.

Kayak angler Matthew Scotch posted the narrated videos on Facebook on July 6. “There are dead fish as far as you can see up here guys,” Scotch said. “All dead bass. Dead and dying.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Tim Bister of Marshall has seen the videos. He suspects the fish kill was spurred by low dissolved oxygen levels. Summer water temperatures on Welsh have been known to nudge the triple digits around the power plant outflow.

“There was a pretty good rain storm there on Friday (July 5), which may have attracted fish into the back of vegetated coves,” Bister said. “With higher water temperatures this time of year, water can’t hold as much oxygen. Combine that with the nighttime process of photosynthesis that uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen levels can get very low in early morning. It’s happened at Welsh before, but it usually bounces back pretty quick.”

Fisheries biologist Jake Norman of Tyler agreed. He said summer fish kills are common at Welsh due to low oxygen levels.

“I know Welsh has had fish kills pretty much every summer,” Norman said. “I’m not sure if they’re always this big, or not. High fish density, warm water and abundant vegetation make it a matter of when, not if, it will happen.”