A significant number of fish have been found dead in the canyon area near Skutz Falls along the Cowichan River, and authorities from multiple agencies, as well as members of the community, are trying to figure out why.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a mysterious thing going on in that the fish in the main stem of the river near Horseshoe Bend are showing [up] dead so there害羞草研究所檚 a big process right now trying to solve that,害羞草研究所� Brian Houle, environmental manager of Paper Excellence害羞草研究所檚 Crofton mill said on July 13.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is aware, as is Cowichan Tribes, Houle said, and everyone is working to figure out why the fish are dying.

A spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said Conservation and Protection was notified of the fish kill on July 10 though the ORR (observe, record, report) line.

害羞草研究所淭he Department would like to thank the members of the public who alerted us to this event,害羞草研究所� said Leri Davies. 害羞草研究所淔ishery officers are currently looking into the incident. At this time, DFO cannot comment further.害羞草研究所�

A press release issued Friday from Cowichan Tribes noted that 害羞草研究所渢he loss of any number of fish is very concerning. Lower river flows and higher water temperatures can increase the stress on fish, making it more difficult for them to withstand other pressures.害羞草研究所�

All of the agencies are working together to determine the cause.

Houle said that on Friday, June 30 officials with the mill, (and regulators of the weir), dropped the water levels flowing from Cowichan Lake into the river to 4.5 cubic metres per second, to conserve water through the summer. It害羞草研究所檚 become an annual practice.

Changing the flow of the river has many impacts and variables and as a result Catalyst runs the weir under regulatory guidance.

害羞草研究所淲e apply for authority to deviate from ideal conditions,害羞草研究所� Houle explained of the process. When the flow is lowered, biologists are required to go out onto the river and and ensure any environmental issues related to the drop in flow are mitigated.

The extra oversight is critical but the eyes that found the dead fish weren害羞草研究所檛 of professionals, but a father and daughter swimming in the deep pool. The young girl saw something shiny on the riverbed and dove down with a mask only to find it was hundreds of dead fry.

Houle said things went swimmingly for the first 10 days or so following the flow change, and tens of thousands of fish were moved to the river害羞草研究所檚 main stem.

害羞草研究所淭he [biologists害羞草研究所橾 focus is to get the fish to the main stem because that害羞草研究所檚 where they害羞草研究所檙e safe,害羞草研究所� Houle explained. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had our qualified professionals in the river ensuring just that.害羞草研究所�

For the last several years, when the flow is lowered, community members and volunteers often help the biologists transfer the fish who become stranded in pools or find themselves in disconnected side channels and relocate them to the main stem.

Long-time riverside resident and Cowichan river steward Joe Saysell is one of those who keeps a keen eye on the river, its flow, and the fish.

He害羞草研究所檚 not so sure why the fish died.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e mulling it all over right now, about what害羞草研究所檚 the problem,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 finding it so frustrating. You go to all this work moving fry early to try and save the poor things and then this happens to them. It害羞草研究所檚 really frustrating.害羞草研究所�

Saysell said the most dead fish have been found above Horseshoe Bend, right below the falls in what they call the deep pool near the bridge over the river by Mayo Lake Road.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been discussing it with DFO and Conservation and we thought it was an oxygen level in that pool at the bottom that wasn害羞草研究所檛 very good but when the pool was measured, the oxygen level was actually OK,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that the temperature of the river was also quite good.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 know what it is,害羞草研究所� Saysell continued. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e sent the samples away to the lab but we don害羞草研究所檛 know how long until they害羞草研究所檒l come back. These fish seem to be coming into that pool over the falls. It害羞草研究所檚 got to be something right in that area, in my mind.害羞草研究所�

On top of that, it isn害羞草研究所檛 young fish that are dying either. And not just one type.

Saysell said the fish he collected were nearly all coho salmon while another fellow collected nearly all rainbow trout and what害羞草研究所檚 more, the real puzzle is that they害羞草研究所檙e not this year害羞草研究所檚 fish. They害羞草研究所檙e about two years old, he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just a heartbreak to see this happen,害羞草研究所� Saysell said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 praying that nobody has put something toxic in the river. That害羞草研究所檚 my big fear.害羞草研究所�

While they carry on trying to solve the mystery, Saysell said he and researchers will likely have to go from pool to pool from his house south of Lake Cowichan, all the way down to Skutz Falls and test the water in every pool along the way.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e really, really concerned,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 just pray that somebody hasn害羞草研究所檛 done some something super, super stupid.害羞草研究所�

As part of DFO害羞草研究所檚 work to end illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.