Fish Die Off Reported At Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Lake Elsinore officials on Thursday announced a "Stage 1 Lake Watch Alert" after a "minor" fish die off happened on the lake, involving mostly threadfin shad or large carp. The city says they want everyone to be on high alert about the vulnerability of a die off.

"In response, our teams mobilized quickly and have successfully cleared most of the fish along the lake’s shoreline," the city said. "In recent years, the City acquired a surf rake, which is working well to quickly and effectively clean up the shoreline."

The die off is not a surprise to officials, who say they know what likely caused it.

"Today’s minor fish kill is the direct result of low water levels, increasingly hot temperatures during the day and night, a fishery imbalance and declining dissolved oxygen levels for sustained periods of time," a statement from the City of Lake Elsinore said. "A fish kill is nature’s way to rebalance the fish population and improve the overall health and quality of the lake."

"As part of Stage 1, the City is asking our regional partners, businesses, community groups and residents to be engaged and prepared," the city said. "The City and our teams remain on High Alert and we are prepared to address any additional concerns in the coming days."

Find out more and find updates about the lake at www.lake-elsinore.org/lakewatch.

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