From all indications the fish die-off on Clear Lake that occurred on Wednesday and Thursday along a stretch of shoreline in Clearlake is over.
Sarah Ryan, the Environmental Director for the Big Valley Rancheria, said that she worked closely with Karola Kennedy of the Elem Indian Colony to find the cause of the fish die-off. Kennedy obtained water samples from the lake where the die-off occurred and they have been sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. Kennedy also reported that there appeared to be a oil deposit on the water.
Carolyn Ruttan of the Lake County Water Resources Department visited the area on Thursday and said that she saw several species of dead fish, but that it appeared the main die-off was over at that point.
Cindy Machado of Clearlake first reported the fish die-off on Wednesday and said the dead fish numbered in the hundreds and birds such as pelicans and herons were feeding on the fish.
