Environment Agency officers are working against the clock to save hundreds of fish in the River Don from Rotherham to Doncaster following a collapse in water oxygen levels. The river is an important site for nature conservation as well as a public fishery.
The low oxygen levels are a result of a period of dry weather and low river flow followed by an intense rainfall event on Sunday night (July 2 2006) causing sewage from storm overflows to enter the river in Sheffield and Rotherham.
Environment Agency officers were soon on site and confirmed many hundreds of dead fish at Mexborough where oxygen levels had dropped to around 20 per cent. Fish were clearly seen gasping for oxygen at Mexborough Low lock, situated below the confluence of the River Don with the South Yorkshire Navigation. The problem started near Rotherham and has moved down the river through Sprotborough and is now in the Crimpsall area of Doncaster.
With the entire fish population at risk, the Environment Agency team is deploying emergency equipment to pump large quantities of hydrogen peroxide into the river to increase oxygen levels. The operation to protect fish stocks will prevent an even greater number of fish deaths.
Jane Parry, Area Environment Management Team Leader said: “Abnormal weather patterns of a lengthy period of dry weather and then very intense rainfall have caused sewage to enter the river and now we are doing everything we can to save fish stocks.
“We are monitoring oxygen levels at Crimpsall Sluice until we are satisfied that the river is recovering. The river in this location is a very valuable conservation area and provides a wonderful recreational resource for anglers. We are doing all we can to preserve it.â€
