Why are fish struggling in Lake Erie?

Below is an email I received from enviro-mich (hosted by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN)) that I would like to share: 

All

Many fishermen have shared that they are seeing a dozen or more dead adult walleye in the lake when they are out.  Dave Spangler, President of Lake Erie Waterkeeper and Lake Erie Charterboat captain shared at the waterkeeper meeting last night that they are seeing 'dazed' walleye a foot or more in the water that are not interested in bait and appear to be dying.  These are some of the symptoms witnessed in 2006 with VHS which killed thousand of sheephead and yellow perch.  ODNR has sent walleye samples out for the testing to determine the cause of the deaths and reports should be in soon.  On our beach on Maumee Bay we have seen a few dead sheephead and bass as well as walleye.

You may recall that in late winter this year there were large numbers of Canadian geese dead that we have not seen before. No cause was determined.

In addition the walleye larval counts at the mouth of the Maumee River and in the Lake Erie shoals by the UT Lake Erie Center and ODNR are very very low indicating a very very small 2011 walleye hatch.

This is all troubling for the fish and the lake.

Cold water and heavy rainfalls are contributors to whatever is happening with water quality and the fish.  Data from the Detroit wastewater plant, the largest in North America, shows that over 13 billion gallons of raw and partially treated sewage has entered Lake Erie this year.

Lake Erie is truly challenged.  Reductions in sewage discharges and phosphorus runoff are desperately needed. 

Lake Erie provides drinking water for 11 million people, there are many troubled warning signs. It is hoped that the gathering of groups on June 8th for the Lake Erie Imrpovement Forum will produce a cooperative collaborative efficient plan to help Lake Erie

Sandy

Lake Erie has the Great Lakes Warmest, Shallowest, Fishiest Waters
Lake Erie is threatened by excess nutrients creating lots of algae
Sandy Bihn, Director
Lake Erie WATERKEEPER Inc.
westernlakeerie.org
3900 N. Summit
Toledo, Ohio 43611
419-691-3788 Cell 419-367-1691 Fax 419-261-2288
sandylakeerie@aol.com