Community Corner
Seen Dead Fish on Kirkland Beaches? Don't Worry, They Died Happy
The Kirkland Parks Department said the die-off of the sardine-sized fish is a naturally occurring phenomenon during the spawning season.
A Patch reader asked why there are so many dead fish on Kirkland beaches, such as Juanita Beach, this week.
Though the tiny fish are no bigger than fingerlings at 2-4 inches long, they are adult Sticklebacks who have completed their spawning in Lake Washington, Kirkland Parks Operation Manager Jason Filan said.
The Sticklebacks are a predominant species in Lake Washington and spawn annually, followed by a natural die-off that leaves a mass of dead fish in the lake, usually between about mid-June and early July, Filan said. He said Washington fish biologists have told city staff that the phenomenon is natural and not indicative of a problem in the lake.
Most of the dead fish are eaten in the water by seagulls and other creatures, but some wash up on the beaches between Juanita and Houghton. The Parks Department cleans up those washed up fish daily and composts them, Filan said.
Less frequently, a similar phenomenon is seen on Kirkland beaches with Yellow Perch, which are much larger at an average 7-10 inches long. The next anticipated natural die-off of perch in Lake Washington is in 2015, city staff said.
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