Lake Greenwood fish kill hits multiple species: What SC anglers should know

If you fish Lake Greenwood, state agencies need you to know about a fish kill on the southern end of the lake — and they’re asking for your help.

Dead crappie, yellow perch, flathead catfish, striped bass and bluegill have been found in the Cross Hill area of Lake Greenwood, according to a report from The State. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the S.C. Department of Environmental Services were both notified earlier this month and have launched an investigation.

No cause has been determined. The agencies are collecting samples and seeking answers, but right now, the reason these fish are dying remains unknown.

Five species found dead

The kill isn’t limited to one species. Crappie, yellow perch, flathead catfish, striped bass and bluegill have all turned up dead. For anyone who fishes Greenwood regularly, that list covers several of the lake’s most popular targets.

Crappie and striped bass are two of the species that draw anglers from across the Midlands and Upstate to Lake Greenwood. Bluegill and yellow perch are staples for panfish anglers. Flathead catfish round out the list. Five different species across the fishery — that’s a broad kill.

The agencies have not released specific numbers on how many fish have been found dead. What is known is that SCDNR has collected fish samples and SCDES is assessing water samples. Those results have not been made public yet.

Where on the lake the kill is concentrated

This is the detail that matters most if you’re planning to be on the water.

“The majority of reports related to the fish kill have been localized to the lower portion of the lake, below the lower train trestle,” environmental services said in a news release. “Isolated reports of single dead fish in other areas of the lake are likely not related to this incident.”

The dead fish were first reported in the Cross Hill area on the southern end of Lake Greenwood. According to the agency, scattered reports of individual dead fish spotted in other parts of the lake are likely unconnected to the main kill event.

Based on what has been reported so far, the affected zone is the lower portion of the lake, below the lower train trestle near Cross Hill.

Common causes have been ruled out

Here’s what makes this one stand out. The agencies said fish kills are relatively common and often caused by oxygen depletion, excessive algal blooms and high water temperatures. But those do not appear to be the reason for this fish kill.

With the most typical explanations apparently off the table, the investigation has turned to other possibilities. The agencies have sought information from facilities upstream of the fish kill to see if they have had operational issues.

That upstream inquiry is notable. Lake Greenwood is fed by three waterways: the Saluda River, the Reedy River and Rabon Creek. Whatever is entering the lake’s southern end could be coming from any of those tributaries or from facilities along them.

SCDNR collected fish samples from the kill area. SCDES is assessing water samples. With the common causes already set aside and samples still being analyzed, the investigation is ongoing.

Where Lake Greenwood sits in the watershed

Lake Greenwood was formed in 1995 when a hydroelectric dam was built across the Saluda River near Chappells. The lake has 212 miles of shoreline and covers 11,400 acres in Greenwood, Laurens and Newberry counties.

For anglers who also fish downstream, the connection is direct: water from Lake Greenwood feeds into Lake Murray. What happens in Greenwood’s water moves through the system.

How you can help

State officials ask anyone who sees more dead fish or knows something about the current situation to call SCDNR’s 24-hour reporting line at 1-800-922-5431.

That line is staffed around the clock. If you’re on Lake Greenwood and you encounter dead fish, SCDNR wants to hear from you. The same goes for anyone who has information related to the situation.

What’s still unknown

The cause of the kill remains undetermined. The number of dead fish has not been specified. Neither SCDNR nor SCDES has publicly addressed whether there are any concerns related to consuming fish caught in or near the affected area — that topic was not included in the agency communications released so far.

What is clear is that a multi-species fish kill is underway in the lower portion of Lake Greenwood, concentrated below the lower train trestle near Cross Hill. The usual explanations — oxygen depletion, algal blooms and high water temperatures — have been ruled out. State agencies are testing both water and fish samples and looking at upstream facilities for possible answers.

If you see something on the water, pick up the phone: 1-800-922-5431.