Thousands of dead fish are floating in Lake Champlain, and nobody knows why

Something smells fishy on the shores of Lake Champlain in Washington County.

Thousands of dead fish are floating on the water and washing up on the shore in the area of South Bay in Whitehall, but nobody knows why, WTEN-TV reported.

"When the sun comes up, it starts smelling a little bad," Bill Jones, who lives in Whitehall, told the station. He says the mass of fish deaths occurs every year, but what killed them is a mystery.

Locals have theories, however. Barry Lane, who also has a house on the shore, says the masses of dead fish show up wherever the wind blows.

"What reason they die, could be a lack of oxygen. It could be anything really," Lane told WTEN.

The DEC told WTEN it has not heard about any mass fish killings, but is looking into the possibility. A DEC spokesperson say weather could be a factor, however.

The DEC said that the melting ice this time of year, combined with brief warm periods in January and February may be contributing to the deaths. They don't know why the dead fish are showing up only in Whitehall.

The DEC is continuing to investigate the situation. Watch the WTEN-TV video report below.

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