MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By JESSE PAUL AND JAMES FISHER – “REHOBOTH BEACH — Thousands of dead, rotting fish are fouling Silver Lake along Rehoboth Beach’s southern border, the victims of high temperatures and algae that consumed too much of the lake’s oxygen.

The Fish and Wildlife Division of the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said 1,500 gizzard shad, 2 to 4 inches long, were found floating Wednesday, along with 800 white perch. Overnight, thousands more fish died, with as many as 6,000 gizzard shad and 600 adult white perch succumbing by Thursday, along with blue gills and largemouth bass in smaller numbers.

‘Increased temperatures lead to warmer water, which holds less dissolved oxygen,’ John Clark, DNREC Fisheries administrator, said in a news release. ‘So seeing more fish kills this summer as the heat continues would come as no surprise.’

The dead fish, and the sharp, dank odor that could be sniffed from blocks away, was an unwelcome development in the wealthy neighborhood around the lake, where plenty of vacationers were in town.

‘Yesterday, it was the little fish. Today, it’s the big fish,’ said Mary Iannicelli, walking on a side street near the lake. ‘We’re just wondering if they’re gonna clean it up.’

Sherry Chappelle, who’s lived here for 15 years, said it was the first fish kill she’d seen, although she had heard of others.” Read more.