Agency issues consumption advisories for 2010

By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Marion Reservoir and Marion County Park and Lake are not among the locations with potentially risky contamination levels among fish, according to a revised fish consumption advisory from Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The agencies test for mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish and lead and cadmium in shellfish. Those metals and compounds pose health risks to humans.

Marion County Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson expects advisories elsewhere will lead to more fishing at the lake.

“That would definitely help us with people wanting to come here to fish,” he said.

He said he isn’t aware of any advisories in the lake’s history. KDHE tested lake water during summer 2008, with results showing normal conditions.

Ranger Tracy Robb at Marion Reservoir said she doesn’t expect any effect at the reservoir. People can safely eat at least two 8-ounce servings of fish or shellfish per week from any Kansas water body not under an advisory. Women who are pregnant or nursing may wish to consult with a physician about safe levels of fish consumption.

Kansas recommends not eating specified fish or aquatic life from the following locations:

• Kansas River below Bowersock Dam to the confluence of the Wakarusa River for bottom-feeding fish, including carp, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, bullhead, sturgeon, buffalo, carpsuckers, and other sucker species
• Horseshoe Lake in units 22 and 23 of the Mined Lands Wildlife Area for all forms of aquatic life including fish
• Spring River from the confluence of Center Creek to the Oklahoma border for shellfish
• Shoal Creek from the Missouri border to Empire Lake for shellfish

Kansas also recommends a limit of one 8-ounce serving per month on the consumption of bottom feeding fish from the Arkansas River from Lincoln Street dam in Wichita to the confluence of Cowskin Creek and Cow Creek from Hutchinson to the confluence of the Arkansas River.

Furthermore, Kansas recommends limiting fish consumption to one 8-ounce serving per week for adults or one 4-ounce serving per week for children 12 or younger of bass, crappie, and walleye from the Little Arkansas River from Main Street Bridge west of Valley Center to the confluence of the Arkansas River, and the Blue River from U.S. 69 to the Missouri state line.