Salmon die-off in Lake Koocanusa

Libby Montana News Archive

LibbyMt.com > News > August 2005 > Salmon die-off in Lake Koocanusa

Salmon die-off in Lake Koocanusa
Biologists look for cause
August 19, 2005
An article by Jim Mann in the online Daily Inter Lake on Thursday describes a recent fish kill of kokanee salmon in Lake Koocanusa reservoir near Libby earlier this week. The fish affected were adult kokanee salmon concentrated along an 11-mile stretch of the reservoir from Five Mile Creek to Libby Dam. The die-off was reported to involve thousands of fish.

According to the article in the Inter Lake, the die-off did not affect other fish species or young kokanee, only adults expected to spawn in about a month. Kokanee are the landlocked cousins of the seagoing sockeye salmon.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists are investigating the die-off to determine the cause. Initial speculations about the cause of the mortality are centered on naturally occurring environmental conditions such as warm water temperature and strong winds, as no evidence indicating anything to the contrary has been detected.

Related Links:
Lake Koocanusa fish kill investigated Article by Jim Mann, Daily Inter Lake, Aug. 18, 2005
Lake Koocanusa

LibbyMt.com > News > August 2005 > Salmon die-off in Lake Koocanusa

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