The Associated Press
6/8/2004, 12:52 a.m. ET
LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP)  Thousands of fish found dead in Lake Shenandoah apparently were killed by soaps, rotting food and other materials washed into the waterway last week as firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed two township businesses.
Fred Mumford, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the fish  mostly pickerel and perch  were found Monday morning at the 100-acre lake, which is owned by Ocean County.
Officials believe the materials entered the waterway after Friday's fire and lowered the oxygen level, meaning the fish could no longer breathe.
However, they stressed that nothing has been proved. They also said the number fish killed has not been determined, and it was not clear whether any person or business would face fines over the fish kill.
Water testing conducted at the lake early Monday showed the oxygen level was about one part per milliliter, below the minimum of four parts per milliliter that fish need to survive. However, the oxygen had risen to about four parts per milliliter by Monday afternoon.
6/8/2004, 12:52 a.m. ET
LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP)  Thousands of fish found dead in Lake Shenandoah apparently were killed by soaps, rotting food and other materials washed into the waterway last week as firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed two township businesses.
Fred Mumford, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the fish  mostly pickerel and perch  were found Monday morning at the 100-acre lake, which is owned by Ocean County.
Officials believe the materials entered the waterway after Friday's fire and lowered the oxygen level, meaning the fish could no longer breathe.
However, they stressed that nothing has been proved. They also said the number fish killed has not been determined, and it was not clear whether any person or business would face fines over the fish kill.
Water testing conducted at the lake early Monday showed the oxygen level was about one part per milliliter, below the minimum of four parts per milliliter that fish need to survive. However, the oxygen had risen to about four parts per milliliter by Monday afternoon.
