Hundreds of white perch are dead in the lake.
WALES — A hole has been dug behind the town highway garage off Route 19 for residents to dispose of dead fish from Lake George, officials said.
Extreme heat depleted oxygen in the lake, killing hundreds of white perch this past weekend. The perch can be seen floating in the water and many have washed up on the town beach, as well as on private lakeside properties.
Residents have been calling town officials about the dead fish and want to know what to do about them because of their smell.
Meanwhile, Highway Superintendent Bruce Cadieux said the area at the highway department is not large enough to accommodate large amounts of fish, and he is talking with officials at the transfer station to see if a hole can be dug there.
Susan A. Cadieux, Board of Health chairman and Bruce's wife, said the rain on Tuesday helped return oxygen to the 93-acre, spring-fed lake. She said the dead fish issue has been turned over to the Board of Selectmen and Parks and Recreation Commission.
The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife said that last week's prolonged hot temperatures caused the fish to die. White perch were affected because they are at a delicate stage due to being at the end of their breeding season, Susan Cadieux said.