Despite a few days of sporadic rain, the long drought and dropping levels in the vast marshy reservoirs areas bordering Broward and Miami-Dade counties have left thousands of fish high and desiccated. Normally at least a few feet deep, it's down to just a few inches. The water conservation areas, managed by the South Florida Water Management District, now serve multiple duties as remnants of the Everglades, recreational areas and storage reservoirs for urban use. Fish kills are most common in natural depressions occurring across marshes, Fury said. Though sometimes just slightly deeper than the surrounding area, they still attract fish.
Many fish become trapped as the waters drain, taking with it precious oxygen.
Mudfish, for example, actually get oxygen from the atmosphere. The low water also has produced some of the best freshwater fishing in South Florida in a decade. With so much of the marsh drained, many species have retreated to deeper pools or canals, creating a high concentration. They blame water district and wildlife managers for neglecting the system. Biologists expect a quicker rebound.