HYDRO25897 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Page 2 Purgatoire River Fish Kill Report 03/24/88 Following the water samples, DWM's Aragon, Madriaga and I began to search the Purgatoire River east (downstream) of the effluent. Approximately 200 yards below the effluent at Ciruela Canyon we began to find dead fish upside down facing upstream. Most of these fish were in large pools or slow water. However, we did find many fish in extremely shallow water at the edge of the river or even out of the water on the rocks. The fish that we saw were German Brown Trout, Western White Sucker and Long Nosed Dace. By far the majority of dead fish were Brown Trout ranging in size from 4" to 12". The dead suckers were approximately 4 inches in size also, while the 8" - 10" suckers seemed to have good survival. Again, however, the larger suckers seemed to be in extremely shallow water at the river's edge. The dace were also approximately 4". DWM Aragon and I picked up 15 - 20 fish of various sizes and species to be necropsied to determine cause of death. As with the three water samples mentioned earlier, the fish remained in my possession until transmittal in the chain of custody to research analysts. Following collection of fish samples at the beginning of the kill zone, Aragon, Madriaga and I began to count the dead fish. We walked the Purgatoire River east to Highway 12. In the stretch of stream we counted 348 fish. Approximately 48% of these fish were Brown Trout ranging in size from 4" to 12". During the count we noticed a brown frothy coating on a beaver pond immediately east of the Pagnotta residence. We were unable to sample this as we had no more sample bottles. We continued east on the count and for approximately 30 yards below the beaver dam we did not see any dead fish. Unfortunately, the next pool revealed dead fish as did the remainder of the Purgatoire River to Highway 12. Due to time constraints we were forced to return to Trinidad. I contacted AWM Velarde and Aquatic Biologist Melby by telephone to confirm the fish kill and arrange a tour. Monday, March 7, I returned to the Purgatoire River and walked from the effluent west (upstream) co the road entering the Golden Eagle Mine. In this stretch of the Purgatoire River (approximately .B mile) I found one fish that appeared to have been dead considerably longer than fish sampled on March 6. The eyes of this fish were completely white as opposed to clear eyes on trout below the effluent. Also, the fish above the effluent was much more decayed and I believe was a natural mortality. I worked the river back and forth to view both banks. I saw live trout in this section of river, although the snow and overcast conditions made viewing difficult. After examining the Purgatoire River above the Ciruela Canyon effluent I drove east on Highway 12 to a point approximately 1/2 mile east of the bridge crossing Highway 12. This is the bridge that vas the lower limit of our count on March 6. I entered the Purgatoire and walked west (up- stream) to the bridge. In this stretch of river I counted 176 fish with the majority again Brown Trout. As I approached the Highway 12 bridge I saw a Division of Wildlife vehicle traveling west. The vehicle was driven by Area 11 Aquatic Biologist, Jim Melby. I had collected fish ranging in size from 4 to 14 inches and showed the sample to Melby.