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Rapid response by MDC statewide hatchery staff mitigating loss.
BRANSON, Mo.
– An unfortunate combination of late-autumn water conditions has caused a
die-off of trout at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Shepherd of
the Hills Hatchery.
This
fish loss is a result of a combination of current environmental conditions that
include warm water, low oxygen, high nitrogen, high sulfur levels and excess
nutrient content. Hatchery staff will not know the full impact of trout loss
for some time as some fish may experience delayed mortality from the stress
they experienced at this time. Mortality has occurred in all sizes of fish at
the hatchery. Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery, located in Taney County, is
Missouri’s largest trout hatchery. It produces 1,250,000 trout annually which
are stocked into Lake Taneycomo and other trout areas around the state.
Much
of the above-mentioned environmental conditions can be traced to the heavy
rains, hot temperatures and algae die-off that depleted water quality and
caused fish die-off problems at Table Rock Lake this past summer. Shepherd of
the Hills receives its water from Table Rock.
Fortunately,
quick action by MDC hatchery staff is resulting in the bulk of Shepherd’s trout
population being saved. Some are being moved to other raceways at the hatchery
where the water quality is better; other trout are being temporarily
transported to Bennett Spring Hatchery, Montauk Hatchery and Lost Valley
Hatchery.
The
primary cure to Shepherd’s problems will occur when cold weather arrives.
“The
faster it gets colder, the sooner the water temperature at the surface (of
Table Rock) will equal the water temperature at the bottom (of the lake) and
allow the lake to mix,” said MDC Fisheries Management Biologist Shane Bush, who
oversees fish management at Table Rock and Taneycomo reservoirs. “This will
bring better water quality through the dam. This may happen as soon as this
weekend with cold temperatures expected.”
The
hatchery’s Conservation Center remains open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. daily, but trout viewing opportunities along the raceway have been temporarily
closed to the public.
More
information can be obtained by calling the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery
Conservation Center, 417-334-4865 or the Missouri Department of Conservation’s
Southwest Regional Office in Springfield, 417-895-6880.
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