Show Algae Named Fish Killer A green blue algae known technically as on flos has been posit posit- positively positively ively identified as the lye ive factor in the current fish fishkill fishkill kill taking place in the Flam ing Gorge reservoir The algae has been known to be associated with fish die offs in the past THE ALGAE kills by the release of a toxic protein ma ma- material called as it decomposes Fisheries biologists indicate that the algae became concen concen- concentrated in a number of back bays and coves along the re- re reservoir reservoir shoreline as a result of wind and KILLS RESULTED as the concentrated material began to decompose Past studies of the algae indicate that enough toxin is released to kill fish even where there is an dance of dissolved oxygen in inthe inthe the water in a matter of five to six hours The incidence of fungus and bacterial infections found on dead fish in the reservoir is considered as a secondary infection which may have hastened death Department spokesmen in that in the light orl of present knowledge nothing could be done to arrest the current kill PRESENCE OF the algae in the reservoir it was point point- pointed ed out may be only temper ary On the other hand the material may possibly cause offs die to occur on a periodic basis |