Fish Kill Investigations, Technical Assistance and Environmental Reviews

Fisheries personnel investigate, on the average, 45 fish kills per year during which over 200,000 fish die. These fish kills, if caused by pollution, are reported to the Environmental Protection Division for enforcement action. Fisheries biologists assist the Environmental Protection Division in enforcing provisions of Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Control law by evaluating the ecological impacts of projects proposed in stream buffers.

Fisheries management assistance is provided each year to agencies such as the DNR Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division, to the Jekyll Island and Stone Mountain authorities, and to cities, counties and to military bases. In addition, the Section staff reviews permits and applications for water supply lakes, flood control projects, drinking water intakes, power plants, and numerous other developmental activities, all of which often impact the state's fisheries resources. The Section recommends actions which will help protect or enhance fish populations and sport fishing activities when these development activities occur.