'Do Not Eat' Advisory Remains in Effect for Fish Caught in Pymatuning Reservoir, Tamarack Lake in Crawford County

Preliminary Investigations Indicate Fish Kills Caused by Naturally-Occurring Bacteria

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The departments of Environmental Protection and Health, and the Fish and Boat Commission have announced that the "Do Not Eat" consumption advisory for all species of fish taken from Pymatuning Reservoir and Tamarack Lake in Crawford County will remain in effect while officials continue to probe the cause of large fish kills in the two water bodies.

The commonwealth's Interagency Fish Consumption Advisory Technical Workgroup has received and verified the majority of all results from tests on fish tissue and water quality samples collected from the two lakes.

Preliminary results indicate that the fish kills were the result of naturally-occurring bacteria that was triggered by several stressors including rapidly warming waters during the spawning season.

The remaining sample results are expected to be available next week, at which time a decision will be made on whether to lift or adjust the consumption advisory. Water samples are being analyzed at the DEP laboratory in Harrisburg, and fish samples are being tested by the Fish and Boat Commission and at Cornell University.

Pymatuning State Park remains open and there are no fishing, swimming or boating restrictions in place. Tamarack Lake also remains open with no restrictions.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection