Hundreds of dead fish have washed up along the shores of Puslinch Lake.
While it may be alarming, the reason is not surprising.
It’s called a winter kill.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, it happens most often in shallow bodies of water that are frozen for an extended period of time, preventing the natural exchange of oxygen.
“Unfortunately the fish are dying from lack of oxygen,” says Art Zymerman, president of the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association. “What I see here now is the worst winter kill that I’ve seen in the ten years that I’ve been on the lake, and even the lake residents that have been here much longer than me. Everyone is concerned.”
The winter kill will have a devastating effect on the fish population at Puslinch Lake.
Zymerman says he expects to see hundreds, if not tens of thousands of fish wash up on the shoreline in the coming weeks.
That’s why fishermen are being asked to stay away until later this summer.
Anyone who visits the lake will smell the rotting fish but experts say it will only take a few weeks for the lake to clean itself up naturally.
