PHOENIX - Arizona Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists are investigating a fish die-off that has occurred on an area of the Salt River from its confluence with Roosevelt Lake (at the east side of the lake) upstream to Horseshoe Bend. The area encompasses more than 20 miles of the Salt River.

Game and Fish began receiving reports of dead fish from the public yesterday. A response team was deployed this morning to assess the extent of the die-off and possible causes.

“The team is taking water quality samples and examining the dead fish to determine a cause as soon as possible,” said Kirk Young, Game and Fish fisheries chief.

Initial reports are that the die-off has been fairly extensive, with numbers of dead fish estimated anywhere from hundreds to perhaps thousands of fish, affecting a variety of species, including catfish, carp, bluegill, red shiner and buffalo fish.

“At this point, the fish kill seems to be confined to an area of the Salt River upstream of Roosevelt Lake. So far, we have not found any fish dying in Roosevelt Lake itself,” said Young. “We are continuing to investigate the situation.”

Game and Fish advises the public not to eat any dead or dying fish they find anywhere regardless of the cause.