Thousands of dead fish have been floating in a pond in west Wichita, two days after a mass fish kill. Now, residents say the stench has finally worked its way indoors. The fish are now decaying with maggots feeding on them, KWCH reported. Neighbors say they want the mess cleaned up, but aren’t exactly sure who’s supposed to do it.
Lisa Wentworth, who lives in the neighborhood, said the odor is pulling through air conditioners and into houses, where it’s nearly impossible to get rid of the smell. She said she has no idea what the decay is doing to the water or to the wildlife around it. Wentworth also added that residents can’t just bag the fish into their household trash to get rid of the smell, lamenting that nothing about the situation seems safe or sanitary.
One homeowner, Brick Stevenson, offered a theory about what happened. He said he believes fish from outside the neighborhood crowded into the pond after recent stormwater releases and used up the oxygen, suffocating them to death. He said the kill took out bass, perch, crappie, and minnows, along with the larger fish, and he thinks the city should replace them.
The Chadsworth Homeowners Association said it’s working with the City of Wichita’s Stormwater Division, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and Fish and Game. The association said there are concerns that a city pump station may have contributed to the fish kill and to erosion in the neighborhood. It also said the HOA is currently the party responsible for coordinating the cleanup, which leaves homeowners managing the aftermath. KDHE collected water samples on Friday, and the results had not been released as of Sunday.
What Causes a Fish Kill Like This?
Oxygen depletion is one of the most common causes of large summer fish kills. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cool water. When something pushes that level down further, be it an algae die-off or a sudden crowding of fish into one body of water, the fish suffocate and end up dying.
This is close to Stevenson’s theory. He believes the stormwater releases pushed outside fish into the Chadsworth pond and that the crowding drained the available oxygen. Testing is what would confirm that or rule it out, which is why the KDHE samples matter. Those results have not come back yet.
Who’s Actually Responsible for the Cleanup?
The HOA said it’s working on coordinating the cleanup while making clear it does not believe that it’s actually where the responsibility belongs. In its statement, the association said it’s pushing for solutions that address both the environmental damage and the ongoing erosion affecting homeowners.
The organization added that the board weighs improvements such as fountains against keeping dues low and avoiding special assessments. Residents want the pond cleared regardless, with Wentworth saying the mess is “getting worse and destroying more wildlife” while it sits. Either way, all of the residents are likely ready to have something done about the rancid smell.