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.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 a big process right now trying to solve that,含羞草研究社� Brian Houle, environmental manager of Paper Excellence含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

A press release issued Friday from Cowichan Tribes noted that 含羞草研究社渢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.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淲e apply for authority to deviate from ideal conditions,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 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含羞草研究社檚 main stem.

含羞草研究社淭he [biologists含羞草研究社橾 focus is to get the fish to the main stem because that含羞草研究社檚 where they含羞草研究社檙e safe,含羞草研究社� Houle explained. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e had our qualified professionals in the river ensuring just that.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 not so sure why the fish died.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e mulling it all over right now, about what含羞草研究社檚 the problem,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 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含羞草研究社檚 really frustrating.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been discussing it with DFO and Conservation and we thought it was an oxygen level in that pool at the bottom that wasn含羞草研究社檛 very good but when the pool was measured, the oxygen level was actually OK,含羞草研究社� he said, adding that the temperature of the river was also quite good.

含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 know what it is,含羞草研究社� Saysell continued. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檝e sent the samples away to the lab but we don含羞草研究社檛 know how long until they含羞草研究社檒l come back. These fish seem to be coming into that pool over the falls. It含羞草研究社檚 got to be something right in that area, in my mind.含羞草研究社�

On top of that, it isn含羞草研究社檛 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含羞草研究社檚 more, the real puzzle is that they含羞草研究社檙e not this year含羞草研究社檚 fish. They含羞草研究社檙e about two years old, he said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just a heartbreak to see this happen,含羞草研究社� Saysell said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 praying that nobody has put something toxic in the river. That含羞草研究社檚 my big fear.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e really, really concerned,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 just pray that somebody hasn含羞草研究社檛 done some something super, super stupid.含羞草研究社�

As part of DFO含羞草研究社檚 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.