Missouri Department of Conservation reports floodwaters caused natural fish kill along the Missouri River near Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) investigated reports of a large fish kill event just west of Columbia, along Interstate 70 and the Missouri River floodplain.

MDC determined receding floodwaters caused the large fish kill of mostly nonnative, invasive silver carp.

“As floodwaters receded, many fish did not return to the river, but stayed in pools in the floodplain,” said MDC Resource Science Assistant Steffanie Abel. “As the water level in these pools naturally declines, the water temperature increases and dissolved oxygen decreases, resulting in a fish kill.

Officials say if new rainfalls and river levels rise, similar die-offs could happen again.