PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is monitoring what they call a “large fish kill” in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers.
WPRO-AM (https://bit.ly/1M1iLNe ) reports that the agency says the kill began around July 17 when a large number of pogy fish washed up on the upper Seekonk River. The kill zone has extended to the lower Providence River.
The agency says the fish deaths are the result of low oxygen levels in the water due to an algae bloom. The algae dies and sinks to the bottom of the river and decomposes, draining the water of oxygen.
Environmentalist Tom Kutcher says fish kills occur naturally, although this one is larger than those in the past.
The state expects the fish kills to continue until weather conditions change.
___
Information from: WPRO-AM, https://www.630wpro.com/
Please read our comment policy before commenting.