Hundreds of dead fish in Cranberry Pond, DEC says it's "Winterkill" | Environment

The Department of Environmental Conservation says the cause of hundreds of dead fish in Cranberry Pond is nothing more than natural phenomena. An official was in the area investigating on Saturday. Cranberry pond is located off of Edgemere Drive on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Greece.

It is part of the Braddock Bay Fish and Wildlife Management Area. According to DEC Region 8 Director Paul D’Amato, the fish die from something called “Winterkill.” This happens naturally in small ponds when heavy snow and ice cover the pond for a prolonged period of time.

The fish and other organisms essentially use up the available oxygen in the pond and the ice cover prevents a fresh supply of oxygen from mixing with the water. D’Amato says there will be no cleanup effort for the hundreds of dead fish that line the shore of the pond. He says nature will be allowed to take its course and recycle their bodies.

Anyone that discovers a fish kill that seems suspicious or one that cannot be attributed to “Winterkill” should contact their local DEC regional office.