Highland Lakes Fish Kill

As you may have noticed, there has been a significant fish kill in the main lake.  Stressful factors such as warm water temperatures, spawning, and disease can naturally lead to a fish kill. In such cases, the fish kill will likely include fish of the same species or age. Spawning stress is likely during late-spring and early-summer when water temperatures are rising, especially for fish such as bass and sunfish. And that appears to be the case at hand, because it appears to affect only mature bluegill and we have been experiencing unseasonably high temperatures.

Fish kills can also be related to other causes including low oxygen levels, toxic substances, or other suboptimal environmental conditions. We currently have no indication that any of these were contributing factors.  The fish kill has been reported to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife.  Updates will be posted if/when NJDEP provides any further information.