Influence of Temperature on Fish Survival and Distribution in a Heated East Texas Reservoir

A fish die-off involving primarily threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) occurred from July through September 1985 in Lake Monticello, Texas. Heated water discharged from the Monticello Power Plant plus adverse climatic conditions elevated lake water temperatures influencing fish distribution and survival. Respiratory stressors due to crowding of fish in limited refuge areas and intensified by prolonged high water temperatures, are suspected to have caused the mortality of an estimated 756,000 fish valued at $47,000.