Low-level fish advisory for Badin Lake

[Rock21]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2009


Low-level fish advisory doesn’t change
recommended fish consumption at Badin Lake

BADIN — The N.C. Division of Public Health has issued a low-level fish advisory for Badin Lake that reiterates its recommendation that residents should limit their consumption of largemouth bass and catfish to no more than once a week. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 15 should not eat these fish at all.

“This advisory does not change the current recommendations for eating fish in Badin Lake,” said Sandy Mort, Coordinator Health Assessment, Consultation & Education Program, for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. “There is already an existing advisory to limit consumption of bass and catfish due to mercury that affects bass statewide and catfish in waters south and east of I-85.”

It remains safe to continue fishing, swimming and boating in Badin Lake.

This study — the most sophisticated study of fish tissue ever conducted in North Carolina — found slightly elevated levels of PCBs in one largemouth bass and three catfish out of 30 fish that were sampled. Given the prevalence of PCBs in every waterway in America, Gene Ellis, relicensing and property manager for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI), said it is not surprising that a highly sensitive study would find a few fish with slightly elevated levels. If the State used the same procedures to test fish in other lakes and rivers in North Carolina, it would likely find similar levels of PCBs in fish from those waters.

Upstream sources of contamination deserve attention
The study did not identify any potential sources of contamination, but three of the four fish with elevated levels were located in the northwest portion of the lake, upstream of the Badin Works plant. In addition, previous testing by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality has shown the presence of PCBs in the Yadkin River upstream of Badin Lake.

Department of Health officials stated in the public meeting held Wednesday that, although this study wasn’t designed to determine sources, since the majority of fish with contamination were caught in the northwest part of the lake, that it would make sense to check upstream for sources of the contamination.

Fish advisory should not impact water quality application
APGI does not expect the fish advisory to impact its application for a Section 401 water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. “There’s no relationship between the fish advisory and the quality of water being discharged from our dams,” Ellis said. “The 401 water quality certificate focuses exclusively on the quality of water being discharged from our dams and we are confident that the Yadkin Project will meet all relevant water quality standards.”

A recent water test conducted as part of the 401 process has confirmed that no PCBs were detected in the Badin Lake water — nor were any other contaminants found — confirming prior results that have regularly shown that the water quality in Badin Lake is good and in compliance with applicable North Carolina water quality standards.

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For More Information:
Gene Ellis
Relicensing & Property Manager
Alcoa Power Generating Inc.
(704) 796-5824 Mobile
(704) 422-5606 Office

[chief]

I'm glad I don't like catfish or green carp!

[FishCrazy]

Catfish is good but I dont eat them from the lakes. Try some of those farm raised ones.