Water, sediment, fish and plant tissue samples are currently being analyzed to determine the cause of the death of over one thousand fish found earlier this week in the Valleyfield River. Results from the tests are expected in two weeks. Due to the heavy losses of fish stocks, angling in the affected section of the river has been closed for the remainder of the 1999 angling season. This closure is in effect immediately and covers the section of the Valleyfield River below Egolf's Pond downstream to where the Valleyfield River joins the Montague River at Montague.
Officials from the Department of Technology and Environment have been on the scene investigating since Monday morning when the first dead fish were reported. "We are continuing our investigation and while results from the analysis should identify the cause of death in the fish, we are also looking into all circumstances surrounding the incident," said Bruce Raymond, Manager of the Surface Water Section.
Early findings from the investigation point to the presence of residual chemicals from nearby potato fields as a possible source of contamination in the river. There appears to have been severe landwash from nearby potato fields following heavy rain fall over the weekend and it is suspected that residual chemicals adhering to soil particles flowed into the river. Dead fish have been discovered over a lengthy portion of the Valleyfield River, starting in the Heatherdale area, and continuing to head of tide in Montague.
"Once our investigation is complete and the sample analysis available, a full report on the incident will be released," noted Mr. Raymond.