The danger of fish kills is less in which type of water?

Fish kills are less likely to occur in cooler water due to several factors that favor fish survival and overall aquatic health. Cooler water typically holds more dissolved oxygen, which is crucial for fish respiration. Higher oxygen levels can help sustain fish populations and mitigate the stresses that lead to mortality events.

Additionally, in cooler water environments, the metabolic rates of fish are generally lower. This means they require less oxygen and are less stressed by environmental changes compared to fish in warmer waters, where higher temperatures can lead to lower dissolved oxygen levels and increased biological activity that depletes oxygen.

In contrast, warmer water can exacerbate conditions that lead to fish kills, such as oxygen depletion, increased growth of harmful algal blooms, and changes in the species composition of fish populations, which may not thrive in those elevated temperatures. Stagnant water and brackish water conditions present their own challenges, often increasing the likelihood of harmful algal blooms and other stressors on aquatic life that can lead to fish kills.