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Humboldt Lake

Ministry of Environment isn’t restocking fish at Humboldt Lake this spring

Apr 21, 2021 | 5:26 PM

Humboldt Lake will not be restocked with fish by the Ministry of Environment at the start of this season.

The decision was made because of the two ml/litre of dissolved oxygen in the lake. A new reserve of fish wouldn’t be sustainable with this oxygen level.

The lake could be stocked again when conditions improve.

Thousands of dead fish have been found on the shores of the lake in the past after winter kills.

“The issue was the severe spring weather combined with the shallow water,” Water Security Agency communications manager Ron Podbielski said. “You get that situation where you can get fish kill. It is unfortunate. Cold weather impacts oxygen levels. We’re having some interesting springs in Saskatchewan.”

The City of Humboldt’s holding system releases treated wastewater into the lake basin, and Podbielski said their tests have shown that that the discharges wouldn’t harm fish.

“It wasn’t toxic for fish populations,” Podbielski said. “We do the testing on the wastewater facility that is discharging. We want to be sure that the discharges are within what’s acceptable so that it’s not toxic for fish populations. We do testing on that annually.”

Humboldt Lake was previously stocked with fish such as pickerel, perch and jackfish.

Brendan.Mayer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @BrendanMayer

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