Fish kill near Columbus still being probed

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COLUMBUS (AP) — A month after a large fish kill at Short Creek Dam, the popular reservoir in northwest North Dakota remains dark and devoid of oxygen.

State Health Department environmental scientist Mike Ell calls it "a unique situation."

The fish kill followed a heavy rainfall in the region. Pesticides have been ruled out as the cause. Ell says runoff from nearby oil wells is low on the suspect list, but he's collecting more information.

Ell attributes the dark color of the water to the presence of chemical compounds associated with coal present in the region.

Game fish in the reservoir included walleye, bluegill, perch and northern pike. The Game and Fish Department is monitoring it to see if it recovers naturally.

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