SOMERSET - The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is speaking out after dozens of dead fish were found floating in the water at Somerset Lake two weeks after a fish salvage.
The fish salvage happened on Oct.24 in preparation to completely drain the lake and make repairs to the dam and spillway.
On Wednesday, a resident sent 6 News a picture of what appears to be dozens of fish piled up on shore at the lake.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission press secretary Rick Levis said the dead fish is something that's not uncommon after a fish salvage.
We moved a considerable poundage of carp and shad to the dead holes and eight bowfins were sacrificed. There are quite a few of carp and shad stranded in the lake bottom that were impossible to get to," said Area Fisheries manager Rick Lorson.
During the three day salvage, Lorson said 12 trucks moved hundreds of fish to four locations including Shawnee Lake, Glade Run Lake, the Quemahoning Resevoir and Loyalhanna Lake.
"Walleye ranged from 16 to 30 inches, with an average size of 24 inches. We estimate around 750 Walleye moved. Bass ranged from 6 to over 20 inches, with numerous ones over 5 pounds. Channel catfish ranged from 8 to over 30 inches, with numerous ones over 10 pounds. Many bullheads were also moved. A couple dozen muskies and tigers were moved to Shawnee Lake. We know of only one pike of about 30 inches. Muskies ranged from 18 inches to 47 inches and 28 pounds. We moved hundreds of crappies, bluegills and pumpkinseeds," said Lorson.
Carp were left behind, however, because of its invasive nature, Lorson said.
This is something officials stressed would happen before they had the fish salvage.
In a news release on Oct. 12, Lorson said although fish salvages generally save a large number of fish, some will also perish.
"We will collect as many fish as we can and move them to the other waters, but it is impossible to capture all of them," he said. "Fish die during any drawdown and salvage effort. Anglers and the public should expect to see this."
Officials said the Carp left behind have since died from a reduction in the amount of dissolved oxygen available in the smaller pool of water.
Following the fish salvage, the lake will be refilled up to a depth of approximately 10 feet to create a large pool for silt retention.
"The partial refill and grass that was planted earlier on the exposed banks will help retain sediment and prevent it from washing downstream in the months before the construction project begins," said Michele Jacoby, director of the PFBC Bureau of Engineering. "Once a contractor is selected, the reservoir will be completely drained as a safety precaution during construction."
The construction project is expected to start in spring 2018 and take two years to complete, with the lake reopened for public use by the fall of 2020.
The project involves building a new spillway, raising the elevation of the top of the dam, and making repairs and improvements to the dam and the structures used to control the water level. The overall cost is estimated between $6 million to $8 million.
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