Salmon are dying along the Andreafsky River and Lower Yukon River before spawning out. Water surface temperatures have been unusually warm, at one point reaching 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Observation by Eric Alstrom:
Salmon have been seen this summer dying all along the Andreafsky River and Lower Yukon River before they have spawned out. This summer has been very hot for several weeks causing the surface water temperature to rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit at one point.
Comments from LEO Editors:
LEO has received several observations in the past week about salmon mortalities in rivers along the western coast, possibly related to warm water temperatures from the recent high temperatures across the state.
These observations are being forwarded to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation.