CHICO — Over the last week the city of Chico has received several calls from nearby residents informing staff members of dead fish floating in Teichert Ponds near Highway 99 in Chico.
The Park and Natural Resource Manager for Chico and Butte County Linda Herman confirmed the dead fish being reported are on the back side of the pond near the fresh water area, saying the fish have succumbed to lack of oxygen in the water due to a thick layer of ash that has formed atop many parts of the pond.
Eight-year-old Khloe Alexander lives on Ridgebrook Way in Chico near the pond and said she visits the area with her family frequently. They began to see the dead fish a little over a week ago.
“The birds have started eating them so there’s not as many as there was before,” Alexander said.
Herman said her office contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Department after hearing, and later confirming the reports. Herman said her staff confirmed roughly 100 dead fish in the ponds, however an official number was not counted.
Herman said that she was told by the DFW that the dead fish themselves are not believed to pose a threat to the community with any sort of poison or toxin.
Butte County is being told by the Fish and Wildlife not to worry about the floating fish, as they will become part of the natural ecosystem. Birds and other animals will eat them, however Herman and her team are prepared to use nets or other equipment necessary if the fish become a hazard to the community.
“I’m not a biologist, but that was our understanding,” Herman said. “It is unfortunate but we’re just hoping that the natural water system will get to the point that it’s OK. We were surprised too but that’s what we were told that with the poor air quality it is just a lack of oxygen for them to breath.”
The fish, most believed to be bass, are not native to the ponds, Herman said. Bass, which typically need cold water to survive, were not effected by any water temperature changes caused by nearby fires upstream. Instead it was the ash that formed a layer atop the water, suffocating the fish due to lack of oxygen, state officials told Herman.
The fish were once planted by humans and have reproduced over the years, becoming a popular catch-and-release spot for local fisherman. The water for Teichert Ponds is fed underground with runoff from the Chico Mall and filled by storm water.
Teichert Ponds was created in 1965 during the construction of Highway 99 when crews were mining for gravel, according to Chico Creek Nature Center’s website. When construction crews accidentally hit a water line, the mine filled up with water, later becoming a home for fish, birds, turtles, river otters and occasionally beavers.
The ponds have not closed. However Herman said the public should still be aware, although not to worry. There were no other areas, including Horseshoe Lake, that had reports of fish being impacted by ash or other air quality concerns.
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September 19, 2020 at 06:31PM
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Teichert Ponds fish dying due to ash, poor air quality and lack of oxygen - Chico Enterprise-Record
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