SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) said storm runoff is to blame for the deaths of thousands of fish at Espada Park.
"All the pollutants that have accumulated on the hardened surfaces like streets, sidewalks, rooftops, flushes into the river and (it) doesn't have any time to settle out and filter through the sediment or the vegetation," said aquatic biologist Shaun Donovan.
Biologists first noticed the fish gasping for air Tuesday night in a creek feeding into the San Antonio River. The rescue mission started Wednesday morning.
"The species that were killed were mostly gizzard shad. It's a native species, so we obviously, we want to make sure they don't perish in these kind of events but they’re not a game species," Donovan said.
The San Antonio River Authority estimates that 700 to 900 fish were saved. Biologists were unable to save 9,000 to 10,000 fish, though.
Donovan said the public can help prevent this sort of death by simply watching what they use on their grass.
"One of the biggest things that can cause an event like this is the pesticides and herbicides. A lot of the lawn applications that people will do in the summertime, obviously, when the grass is stressed out," said Donovan.