Residents and visitors of Lake Erie’s shores have been confronted with an unsettling sight over recent days, as thousands of dead fish washed up along beaches, including Euclid’s Sims Park and Harborcreek’s Shades Beach. Cleveland19 reported videos and images flooding social media depicting the grim scene at Kenneth J. Sims Park, leading to widespread concern among the community.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has pinpointed the cause as hypoxic upwelling, where strong winds push water with low oxygen levels closer to shore, suffocating the fish. Despite the alarming visuals, ODNR officials stated that fish populations in the lake have not been significantly impacted. Furthermore, they assured the public that scavengers will naturally address the cleanup of the dead or dying fish, according to a statement obtained by FOX8.
Adding to the local concern, Kelly Hart, a resident who contacted FOX8 News, relayed that maintenance staff at the park have never witnessed an event of this scale before. She said, “The sight is pretty scary because the park patrons are unsure if this is a natural phenomenon, or if there is something serious going on with the lake.” ODNR, on the other hand, insists that these occurrences are natural, often taking place in summer…