Officials with the Department of Natural Resources say mercury is poisoning some of Lake Murray’s most popular game fish and could have a negative impact on the region’s health and economy.
According to recently released data by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lake Murray is among hundreds of reservoirs with fish that have exceeded a federal public health standard for mercury. High levels of mercury can cause brain damage, kidney problems and nervous system disorders.
The November 10th report says nearly 49 percent of the 500 lakes tested contained fish with mercury amounts above the recommended federal safety limit of 300 parts per billion.
For those who depend on the lake for business, the new data comes as quite a concern.
“It’s the best business in the world, everybody comes in with a small on their face,” said Dona Hall, the owner of Lake World Bait and Tackle on Lake Murray.
Hall said recent reports on rising mercury levels in the lakes’ most popular game fish has given her and customers something to frown about.
"It really caught us off guard because we've always been known as one of the healthiest lakes in the southeast," said Hall.
According to a study by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, 40 percent of Lake Murray’s largemouth and striped bass tested from 2000 to 2008 had mercury levels above the state’s health safety limit.
However agency officials say people should not be overly concerned because the high mercury readings in certain species have been sporadic and not consistent enough to justify warning the public.
Donna Hall wants to now what’s causing the increase and what’s being done to clean it up, because her livelihood depends on it.
“It would certainly be a detriment to our business, and just for the health of our natural resources we hope something is done long before those levels are reached,” said Hall.
And Hall hopes it’s not a warning of things to come.
“We’ve put our whole lives in it so we hope nothing changes on the end,” said Hall.
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