Fish and Invertebrate Recolonization in a Missouri Prairie Stream after an Acute Pollution Event

Abstract

Recolonization of invertebrates and fish was monitored for 50 weeks and 241 weeks (4.6 years), respectively, after a chicken manure spill killed more than 18,000 fish and an undetermined number of invertebrates in 31.4 km of a prairie stream in west-central Missouri. I have characterized the postspill water quality in the affected portions of the stream to provide insight about the impacts of water quality on the rate of recolonization, determined the recolonization of invertebrate populations to provide insight into the return of a suitable food base for the fish population, and documented the chronology of fish recolonization in the affected portions of the stream to assist with a more appropriate determination of losses of recreational and economic values as a result of fish kills. Water quality had improved by week 15 postspill, but degraded water quality retarded recovery by invertebrates at one site for 50 weeks. Total and noninsect invertebrate abundance improved at some, but not all, sites by week 22 postspill. Abundance of most invertebrates had recovered by week 50, but the invertebrate community remained unstable. The total numbers of fish at two polluted sites and at a reference site were similar by week 33 postspill. However, sunfish Lepomis sp. 178 mm or larger and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides 305 mm or larger remained relatively scarce in the polluted stream segment by week 241. The low numbers of large sport fish present at 241 weeks postspill have greatly diminished the attractiveness of Muddy Creek for angling. The value of a lost or degraded recreational fishery should be included with assessments of penalties to help deter future violations of water quality laws and recover losses that may affect a fishery for two or more years after a major fish kill.