State probes fish kill in Wabash River

DECATUR, Ind. — Indiana health and wildlife officials have taken water samples from the Wabash River in northeastern Indiana in a bid to find out what’s killing fish there.

David Cage, on-scene coordinator for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s emergency response section, said Wednesday that on-site tests found ammonia nitrates, oxygen levels and pH levels were normal and did not contribute to the fish kill. The tests would not reveal whether pesticides or herbicides had entered the waterway. Results of those tests will not be available for up to two weeks, he said.

The river upstream from the Adams County community of Linn Grove, about 30 miles south of Fort Wayne, had a green cast, raising suspicions that algae bloom toxins could be responsible for the kill of an undetermined number of fish.

Cage said he could not rule out the possibility of an algae bloom.

The Decatur Daily Democrat reported that the recent death of a dog in Linn Grove prompted state and county health officials to urge area residents to avoid coming into contact with water in the river until all test results are known. The owners told investigators their dog was known to drink frequently from the river.

“Is there a correlation between the algae bloom and what’s happening with the fish? We don’t know,” Cage said. “If it turns out to be toxic algae, it may not even be related to the dead fish. We simply need to do more research.”

Although Cage was not ready to issue a public health warning against recreational activities in the Wabash River, he suggested residents avoid contact with the river water until it is deemed safe.

“Based on past experience, it’s probably not a good idea to get this stuff on you,” he said.