Mystery on The Shenandoah

Early Spring 2004 It all started with a phone call…. North Fork Shenandoah

Low numbers: 2-3 months - springLow numbers: 2-3 months - spring Smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish adultsSmallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish adults Other species - mostly unaffectedOther species - mostly unaffected Many fish with skin lesionsMany fish with skin lesions

Up to 80% loss of the adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish 75 miles of NF Shenandoah (2004) 75 miles of NF Shenandoah (2004) 100+ miles of SF Shenandoah (2005) miles of SF Shenandoah (2005).

Fish Kill Events – The Facts Spring 2002: South Branch Potomac, WV - Large fish kill observedSpring 2002: South Branch Potomac, WV - Large fish kill observed Spring 2004: N. Fork Shenandoah – 75 milesSpring 2004: N. Fork Shenandoah – 75 miles -smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish – 3 months -smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish – 3 months Spring 2005: S. Fork Shenandoah miles - Fish w/ lesions in March, then dead fish –– 3 monthsSpring 2005: S. Fork Shenandoah miles - Fish w/ lesions in March, then dead fish –– 3 months Spring 2006: N. Fork Shenandoah – again – 30 mi. – and lower South River near GrottoesSpring 2006: N. Fork Shenandoah – again – 30 mi. – and lower South River near Grottoes

Fish Kill Events - continued… Spring 2007 North and South Forks Shenandoah – again!North and South Forks Shenandoah – again! Lower Cowpasture River – Our “control” Stream – downstream of Route 39Lower Cowpasture River – Our “control” Stream – downstream of Route 39 Upper James RiverUpper James River

So, what’s wrong with this picture?

Our Approach: Partnerships Public / Private Government AgenciesGovernment Agencies University ResearchersUniversity Researchers Non-Profit OrganizationsNon-Profit Organizations “Friends” Groups“Friends” Groups IndividualsIndividuals

2005 Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force State - DEQ, DGIF, DCR, WV DEP and WV DNRState - DEQ, DGIF, DCR, WV DEP and WV DNR Federal - USGS, USFWS, EPAFederal - USGS, USFWS, EPA Chesapeake Bay FoundationChesapeake Bay Foundation Shenandoah Pure Water ForumShenandoah Pure Water Forum Canaan Valley InstituteCanaan Valley Institute Potomac ConservancyPotomac Conservancy Shenandoah RiverKeeperShenandoah RiverKeeper University Researchers (VA Tech, JMU, VCU, VIMS)University Researchers (VA Tech, JMU, VCU, VIMS) Agriculture RepsAgriculture Reps Citizens - Riparian LandownersCitizens - Riparian Landowners - Citizen Water Monitoring Groups - Citizen Water Monitoring Groups - Anglers / Fishing Guides - Anglers / Fishing Guides

Processes Fish Kill Task Force & SubgroupsFish Kill Task Force & Subgroups Fisheries NetworkingFisheries Networking –University Researchers –Government Scientists –AFS Network EPA C.A.D.D.I.S. ProcessEPA C.A.D.D.I.S. Process –2 multi-day workshops w/ WV CBF 2007 Fish Health ConferenceCBF 2007 Fish Health Conference

What We Know - The Evidence: No obvious or specific causesNo obvious or specific causes Shenandoah fish kills since 2004Shenandoah fish kills since 2004 Smallmouth bass and sunfish adults decreased up to 80%Smallmouth bass and sunfish adults decreased up to 80% Similar fish kills in upper James River in 2007 – movement from the Shenandoah?Similar fish kills in upper James River in 2007 – movement from the Shenandoah? Patterns:Patterns: –Springtime events –limited to large streams –primarily affect adult centrarchid fishes that support important recreational fisheries.

What We Know – continued…  No clear links to other events in the region or North America, now or at other times  Regional stressors, not point-source inputs.  Unique characteristics of the region  Karst geology  concentrated agricultural production  unique chemistry of affected streams (nutrients and pH) Pathology resultsPathology results skin lesionsskin lesions gill erosiongill erosion liver and kidney damageliver and kidney damage multiple opportunistic pathogens (bacteria and internal parasites)multiple opportunistic pathogens (bacteria and internal parasites) But - no primary pathological agent isolated But - no primary pathological agent isolated

What We Don’t Know (yet) Data Gaps Are the Shenandoah ( ) and James river (2007) fish kills linked?Are the Shenandoah ( ) and James river (2007) fish kills linked? Unique characteristics of the affected watersheds that might allow further refinement of working hypotheses?Unique characteristics of the affected watersheds that might allow further refinement of working hypotheses? Why are the events limited…Why are the events limited… – in time –in space –by taxonomy –by life history stage?

What We Don’t Know Data Gaps - continued… What specific contaminants should be examined?What specific contaminants should be examined? What is the relative importance of:What is the relative importance of: Point sourcesPoint sources Nonpoint sourcesNonpoint sources GroundwaterGroundwater Ecological transferEcological transfer Atmospheric pathwaysAtmospheric pathways For nutrients, contaminants, and pathogens?

Plan for Identify and characterize potential contaminants associated with nonpoint waste-streams in the Shenandoah and upper James river basins.Identify and characterize potential contaminants associated with nonpoint waste-streams in the Shenandoah and upper James river basins. Expand existing monitoring efforts to identify and characterize potential contaminants in ecological sinks (e.g. stream sediment and surface waters) and endpoints (e.g. target fishes) in the Shenandoah and upper James river basins.Expand existing monitoring efforts to identify and characterize potential contaminants in ecological sinks (e.g. stream sediment and surface waters) and endpoints (e.g. target fishes) in the Shenandoah and upper James river basins. Expand fish pathology studies to investigate the entire suite of potential biological pathogens, including bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal agents.Expand fish pathology studies to investigate the entire suite of potential biological pathogens, including bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal agents.

Questions?