State and federal environmental, natural resources, agriculture and health officials are analyzing
smallmouth bass in the South Branch of the Potomac and Lost rivers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle,
trying to understand the cause of intersex conditions and fish kills. Over the past three years, DEP and all
other agencies have undertaken an extensive effort to assess the extent and cause, whether natural or
anthropogenic, of intersex occurrence in South Branch smallmouth bass.
Intersex is a condition in which a fish may exhibit characteristics of both sexes. The condition is believed
to be caused by a fish's exposure to manmade sources of hormones or synthetic compounds that mimic hormones.
Histopathologic examinations of smallmouth bass testes collected from the South Branch Potomac, Potomac and
Cacapon Rivers in 2004 found intersex condition in up to 80% of the male fish sampled.
All available resources will continue to be applied. The agencies involved are currently focusing on studies
concerning:
- Relationship of intersex and fish kills
- Causative pollutants associated with the fish kills
- Reproductive ability of male bass with intersex, via assessment of sperm motility
Below you will find documents and links to information about the fish kills that have occured in the Potomac
and Shenandoah River Watersheds. There were two workshops held at Cacapon State Park that included
representatives of many state and federal agencies.