Mussel Die Off_Lake Cumberland?

[FlyLie]

While out on the lake this week, I saw thousands of small, dime sized bits of "white meat" floating on the surface. No shell, just meat. This was new to me. Collected a few and they looked like mussels to me. Stopped by the dam and showed them to a KDFWF employee, who confirmed they were mussels. When asked why they would die off, she said most likely, "lack of oxygen". Interesting......?

As I know nothing about the life cycle of mussels, and not wanted to go off half cocked, thought I would submitt it to the board members for comments. Is this an annual event or unique to this point in time as a result of lake conditions? As Paul Harvey would say "Here's the rest of the story".

[kygorski]

saw the same thing, I thought they were reguritated forage, thousands of small forage minnows around.

[FlyLie]

saw the same thing, I thought they were reguritated forage, thousands of small forage minnows around.

Sorry, not reguritated minnows. But if it had been, then the SM/Blue Cats must have had one HELL of a PARTY.

OK , where are the University Bio Students? Let's here from you on the science of this observation.

[FlyLie]

Also, see onging discussion at www.lakecumberland.com. Fishing Forum

[jamesdenson]

yea lack of oxygen and i hope they get the dam fixed before we have a bad drought or the fish may be soon to follow.

[ON3 3Y3D WILLI3]

There is a mussel researcher who has visited this board a few times. Will have to search for the posts...

[ON3 3Y3D WILLI3]

Really good thread:

http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php?t=70854

[KMC]

I have to admit, this is a distinctly southern US phenomenon and I do not have much personal experience studying this. I do know that it is something that happens regularly in the summer months down south. This makes sense as it is tied to hot water temps and low oxygen levels (and these two factors go hand in hand, as cold water can hold higher levels of oxygen). If this is in fact an annual event that has always occured, then it suggests that the mussels have learned to live with this regular stress on their community, and it does not necessarily suggest a long term degradation of the waterbody. However, if this die off is found to be a regular but relatively recent phenomenon, then perhaps we should be more concerned about the ultimate causes.

[artcarney_agr]

I've seen this several times on KY Lake - from what I was told it's a non-native species, and nothing to really be concerned about. The catfish sure like them!

[Lowerider]

I saw them too. Pro V talked to a couple guides that saw a couple dozen floating stripes including a 42 incher. Keep your fingers crossed...

[colonelmeyer]

Non-native? Please tell me those stinking Zebra Mussels can't hang with the KY heat, I can't stand em'.

[striperjoe]

While out on the lake this week, I saw thousands of small, dime sized bits of "white meat" floating on the surface. No shell, just meat. This was new to me. Collected a few and they looked like mussels to me. Stopped by the dam and showed them to a KDFWF employee, who confirmed they were mussels. When asked why they would die off, she said most likely, "lack of oxygen". Interesting......?

As I know nothing about the life cycle of mussels, and not wanted to go off half cocked, thought I would submitt it to the board members for comments. Is this an annual event or unique to this point in time as a result of lake conditions? As Paul Harvey would say "Here's the rest of the story".

Was told last week while at the lake KDFW was there early last week checking oxygen
levels coming out of Wolf Creek Dam.
They reported the oxygen level is 9% way off from the 18-20% the aquatic life needs to
survive. We are going to see a big fish fish kill this Fall ,it;s just a matter of time.
Striperjoe