John Matthews
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Hundreds of fish in a pond at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall have died this week – victims of the massive heat wave.
The fish, including sunfish, bass and bluegill, succumbed to water temperatures in the shallow pond that rose in the heat, and robbed the water of its oxygen. National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst tells WMAL this has happened before in the same pond – most recently in 2013.
He says there is an approved plan to re-dig the pond to a depth of 12 feet, which would cool the water – and to allow for fresh water to circulate through, improving oxygen levels – but there is no money available to pay for it.
National Park Service crews have been working since Monday to fish the fish out of the pond. Litterst admits the scene created quite an odor.
There’s still no word on whether the fish will be replaced in the short term. Litterst says the Park Service will discuss options that will hopefully keep the fishicide from repeating itself every few years.
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