| What's behind all of the dead fish along Lake Erie? | |
| By Will Ujek |
Source: wkyc |
9/7/2021 |
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“Other than aesthetics, there really is no notable danger to people,” says Mike Durkalec, an aquatic biologist with Cleveland Metroparks.
While many were planning to head to Lake Erie to enjoy the holiday weekend, those on the east side of Cleveland were welcomed by a bit of surprise, and a smelly surprise at that.
“It was inescapable in some areas to notice just lots of dead fish,” says Mike Durkalec, an aquatic biologist with Cleveland Metroparks. “Also accompanying that in some cases was a really strong, what they often describe as a natural gas odor.”
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Durkalec says this can occur from time to time in Lake Erie in late summer when algae and other organic matter decompose. The decomposition uses up all the oxygen and creates what’s called a dead zone.
“What happens is when you have just the perfect storm of wind and current patterns, that water can well up or come up along the shoreline where it brings those accompanying strong methane odors and in some cases lots of dead fish as well,” says Durkalec.
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