Redhorse Sucker Die-off from Warm Water Temperatures

Downstream (below Springfield and Blue Ford Fisherman's access) we're seeing big die-offs of bigger fish (presumably Golden Redhorse suckers). As most will remember from HS chemistry (Henry's Law in particular), colder water holds more gases, in this case oxygen.

Suckers struggle with water temps over 85 degrees and yesterday the Springfield gauge was almost 89oF. Tuber and kayaker passersby here reported seeing 50 or more dead fish. _________________

The Golden Redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) is a native North American sucker fish introduced in the Potomac basin from the the Mississippi, Ohio, and Great Lakes basins. Their distinguishing characteristics include its brassy-gold metallic scales, white belly, and orange or slate-gray fins. These suckers typically measure 12–18 inches and weigh 1–2 pounds.

Between Blue Ford and Indian Rock you can sometimes see hundreds, They thrive in the clear, gravel-bottomed streams and rivers of West Virginia's New, Ohio, and Potomac river watersheds.

In the figure below you can see the Native range (ochre/yellow) and that the Potomac is in a non-native range (dark red/maroon).  They have been introduced elsewhere in the U.S. too.