The heat and lack of precipitation in the last year are harming fish in Arizona’s lakes. The issue has led to widespread fish deaths throughout the state.
"The last several winters we've had pretty low snow melt. And then that coupled with the dismal monsoon seasons that we've had, those water bodies are just, they're shallower. So they warm up a lot faster, there's less fresh water flowing in," said Jade Dickens with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Becker and Luna lakes in eastern Arizona are the latest to experience fish kills, bringing the number of these events up to 12 this year.
As many as 30 fish died at Becker Lake due to chronically high PH levels similar to baking soda.
Luna Lake saw hundreds of dead fish due to a harmful algae bloom that dropped oxygen levels in the water. The total number of fatalities is expected to rise.
“Both of these events are due to not just this past year, but you know we're in a significant drought period across the state and we're starting to see more issues related to water quality and then the ability of fish to survive," Dickens said.
Arizona has seen 15 to 25 events per year since 2021. Dickens said the department is working to get more accurate reporting on how many happen around the state annually.
