The Tallahassee News Release, June 1962
Dublin Core
Title
The Tallahassee News Release, June 1962
Alternative Title
Lake Apopka Fish Kill News Release
Subject
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality--Florida
Pesticides--United States
Fishing--Florida
DDT (Insecticide)
Pollution--Florida
Parathion
Sewage--United States
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Florida. State Board of Health
Description
A news release from The Tallahassee News detailing the May 1962 fish kills on Lake Apopka. Two fish kills occurred within three days, killing an estimated three million pounds of gizzard and threadfin shad. Water samples were sent to the Florida State Board of Health for testing. The kills are believed to be a result of a combination of various pollutions, including pesticide from aerial spraying, fertilizer run-off, and waste discharge from sewage plants and citrus processing.
Source
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten press release, June 1962: The Tallahassee News, Tallahassee, Florida: binder 1962, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Publisher
Date Created
ca. 1962-06
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of photocopied 1-page typewritten press release, June 1962: The Tallahassee News, Tallahassee, Florida.
Is Part Of
Binder 1962, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Oakland Nature Preserve Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
165 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten press release
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Tallahassee, Florida
Lake Apopka, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Science Teacher
Geography Teacher
Civics/Government Teacher
Provenance
Originally published by The Tallahassee News.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held byThe Tallahassee News and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
King, Joshua
Digital Collection
Source Repository
External Reference
"Learn About Your Watershed: Ocklawaha River Watershed." Florida's Water: Ours to Protect, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed June 12, 2015. http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/ocklawaha/.
Transcript
TALLAHASSEE NEWS RELEASE
June, 1962
More than 3 million pounds of gizzard and threadfin shad are dead in Lake Apopka today according to Bob Peavy and Harold Moody, Fishery Biologists for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. The massive fish kill has involved very few game fishes so far. However, the mortality is still progressing and it is feared that dead game fishes will increase as the situation continues,
Commission biologists began their investigation on Thursday May 16th when the first massed fish kill was observed. They noted a second kill of very large proportions on Sunday May 19th. Water samples were collected and tests made to diagnose the trouble. Other samples were sent to the laboratory of the State Board of Health in Winter Haven. Personnel of that agency are cooperating with the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in the investigation.
The situation was caused by a change in the water conditions. It is believed that change has been gradually brought about as the interrelated result of the materials which man has been introducing into the lake over a period of years, combined with the low water level at which Lake Apopka has been maintained.
Introduced materials include fertilizers from groves and vegetable farms, effluents from sewage disposal and citrus processing plants, and insecticides sprayed from the air.
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission officials emphasize that the condition is serious, and that a large kill of gamefishes is possible.
They recommend that steps be taken to insure water levels in Lake Apopka. Discharge of wastes should be curtailed, and an introduction of insecticides discontinued.
June, 1962
More than 3 million pounds of gizzard and threadfin shad are dead in Lake Apopka today according to Bob Peavy and Harold Moody, Fishery Biologists for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. The massive fish kill has involved very few game fishes so far. However, the mortality is still progressing and it is feared that dead game fishes will increase as the situation continues,
Commission biologists began their investigation on Thursday May 16th when the first massed fish kill was observed. They noted a second kill of very large proportions on Sunday May 19th. Water samples were collected and tests made to diagnose the trouble. Other samples were sent to the laboratory of the State Board of Health in Winter Haven. Personnel of that agency are cooperating with the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in the investigation.
The situation was caused by a change in the water conditions. It is believed that change has been gradually brought about as the interrelated result of the materials which man has been introducing into the lake over a period of years, combined with the low water level at which Lake Apopka has been maintained.
Introduced materials include fertilizers from groves and vegetable farms, effluents from sewage disposal and citrus processing plants, and insecticides sprayed from the air.
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission officials emphasize that the condition is serious, and that a large kill of gamefishes is possible.
They recommend that steps be taken to insure water levels in Lake Apopka. Discharge of wastes should be curtailed, and an introduction of insecticides discontinued.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten press release
Collection
Citation
“The Tallahassee News Release, June 1962,” RICHES, accessed December 26, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/5226.