Hundreds of dead fish are floating in or washed ashore at a Boca Raton lake, and people in that neighborhood said the smell has been unbearable at times over the last few days.While the city of Boca Raton and Lake Worth Drainage District leaders are currently working to resolve this issue, some people in this neighborhood said more needs to be done.The stench was not quite as bad on Sunday as it was on Saturday, due to many of the dead fish being eaten by insects or birds. Some of the dead fish also sunk into the lake."It’s repugnant. It’s disgusting," Manning said. "We can’t use our backyard."Manning is one of many in the Boca Square neighborhood who've been forced to adjust their plans over the last few days.She first noticed the odor Thursday night and went out to investigate the smell the next day."I actually went down to the lake and I saw the fish that had collected,” said Manning. "At least 5-or-600 fish collected in the corner by the storm drain. It was disgusting and it stunk. It smelled like dead fish. It’s gross."She said she called the city soon after that, staff members came to the lake.Another neighbor forwarded us an email sent to her from the City of Boca Raton municipal services department."The City with the expertise of Allstate Resource Management has made the conclusion that the low oxygen levels in the lake (2 ppm) is the root cause of the fish kill. The City is looking into long term solutions. We have scheduled Allstate Resource Management to clean up the existing dead fish in the lake on Monday, 6/21. We are sorry for the great inconvenience and will keep you updated on the future progress of our long term mitigation assessment." Video below: WPBF 25 News Reporter Steve King shares initial details of fish washing up on the lake's banksBoca Raton City Council member Andy Thomson went to the Boca Square neighborhood to speak with residents on Saturday."It's a difficult situation these folks are living with," Thomson said. "I just showed up and I could smell the fish from when I got out of my car, which is probably 100 yards away from the water. It’s got to be a serious impact on their quality of life and so I’m happy to hear that the city responded quickly, came out here, took tests, tried to figure out what the issue was. They figured out that preliminarily, it was the oxygen level with the water there. And they’re going to have somebody help address the fish buildup, such as it is there, and help remove it and I expect they’re going to do more in-depth tests to see what in fact the issue might be that caused this very unfortunate situation."Thomson also said the city is not responsible for this issue but staff members will work to resolve the problem in any way they can.“I don’t want to be the kind of public official who says, 'That’s not my job,’" Thompson said. "We get on the horn with the people whose job it is and make sure they get out here and fix it and that’s what we’re going to do."Manning said the lake needs to be tested for toxins, regardless of who is responsible for this issue."I just want it tested for toxins just to make sure there’s nothing else,” Manning said. "Just keep testing until you can tell me there’s nothing bad in that water. It just seems so bizarre that in the 21 years that I've lived here this has never happened before."South Florida Water Management District leaders said they have no involvement with this situationLake Worth Drainage District leaders said they cannot test for toxins in the lake, but they will contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Monday to request that toxicity tests be conducted.DEP leaders sent the following response:"We look forward to receiving additional details on the incident to assess appropriate response."WPBF 25 News is still waiting to hear back from the FWC.
Hundreds of dead fish are floating in or washed ashore at a Boca Raton lake, and people in that neighborhood said the smell has been unbearable at times over the last few days.
While the city of Boca Raton and Lake Worth Drainage District leaders are currently working to resolve this issue, some people in this neighborhood said more needs to be done.
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The stench was not quite as bad on Sunday as it was on Saturday, due to many of the dead fish being eaten by insects or birds. Some of the dead fish also sunk into the lake.
"It’s repugnant. It’s disgusting," Manning said. "We can’t use our backyard."
Manning is one of many in the Boca Square neighborhood who've been forced to adjust their plans over the last few days.
She first noticed the odor Thursday night and went out to investigate the smell the next day.
"I actually went down to the lake and I saw the fish that had collected,” said Manning. "At least 5-or-600 fish collected in the corner by the storm drain. It was disgusting and it stunk. It smelled like dead fish. It’s gross."
She said she called the city soon after that, staff members came to the lake.
Another neighbor forwarded us an email sent to her from the City of Boca Raton municipal services department.
"The City with the expertise of Allstate Resource Management has made the conclusion that the low oxygen levels in the lake (2 ppm) is the root cause of the fish kill. The City is looking into long term solutions. We have scheduled Allstate Resource Management to clean up the existing dead fish in the lake on Monday, 6/21. We are sorry for the great inconvenience and will keep you updated on the future progress of our long term mitigation assessment."
Video below: WPBF 25 News Reporter Steve King shares initial details of fish washing up on the lake's banks
Boca Raton City Council member Andy Thomson went to the Boca Square neighborhood to speak with residents on Saturday.
"It's a difficult situation these folks are living with," Thomson said. "I just showed up and I could smell the fish from when I got out of my car, which is probably 100 yards away from the water. It’s got to be a serious impact on their quality of life and so I’m happy to hear that the city responded quickly, came out here, took tests, tried to figure out what the issue was. They figured out that preliminarily, it was the oxygen level with the water there. And they’re going to have somebody help address the fish buildup, such as it is there, and help remove it and I expect they’re going to do more in-depth tests to see what in fact the issue might be that caused this very unfortunate situation."
Thomson also said the city is not responsible for this issue but staff members will work to resolve the problem in any way they can.
“I don’t want to be the kind of public official who says, 'That’s not my job,’" Thompson said. "We get on the horn with the people whose job it is and make sure they get out here and fix it and that’s what we’re going to do."
Manning said the lake needs to be tested for toxins, regardless of who is responsible for this issue.
"I just want it tested for toxins just to make sure there’s nothing else,” Manning said. "Just keep testing until you can tell me there’s nothing bad in that water. It just seems so bizarre that in the 21 years that I've lived here this has never happened before."
South Florida Water Management District leaders said they have no involvement with this situation
Lake Worth Drainage District leaders said they cannot test for toxins in the lake, but they will contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Monday to request that toxicity tests be conducted.
DEP leaders sent the following response:
"We look forward to receiving additional details on the incident to assess appropriate response."
WPBF 25 News is still waiting to hear back from the FWC.
June 21, 2021 at 08:01PM
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Hundreds of dead fish appear in Boca Raton lake, neighbors call for water testing - WPBF West Palm Beach
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