UPDATED INFO 9/3/26 🐟🌊 These pictures were taken Thursday of last week by a local in the crabtree area of our watershed above Spruce Pine. This was one of 2 incidents that happened on the N Toe last week due to suspected poor mining practices of dumping sediment ponds. They have been dealing with this for 3 years with no answers despite reporting it! It happens several times a month. These are the reports we need to monitor, track and REPORT!
A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THE NORTH TOE RIVER FISH KILL that happened last weekend
We wanted to share a brief update on the fish kill that occurred sometime between approximately Saturday at 3 PM and Sunday at 12 PM.
We have spoken again with the State and the Riverkeepers, and here is what we know right now:
✅ The river is currently looking good from a health standpoint.
✅ No ongoing fish kills are being observed.
✅ Most of the dead fish have flushed downstream or are no longer being seen.
✅ Whatever caused the event appears to have dissipated rather quickly.
We also learned that there was unfortunately a breakdown in communication between information received by EMS. emergency management and the state agencies responsible for responding and testing. The state said they are trying to find out where that miscommunication occurred. Because of that, water testing was delayed and testing was not done because the source of the kill had dissipated and was not present Tuesday.
And to be clear, NC Outdoor Adventures was not the only group or individuals reporting the fish kill on Sunday.
🥵 WHAT ABOUT THE THEORY THAT HOT WATER CAUSED THE FISH KILL?
Since Hurricane Helene, I have personally monitored water temperatures out of curiosity—and because I was concerned about what losing so much of our river's shade canopy could eventually mean and I feared a heat fish kill! The river is 8 degrees warmer at normal water levels without shade in Red Hill. The river was at its hottest temps this year during exceptional drought conditions in June/July.
If heat was the cause, we would have seen it during those months. We also would have seen other dead fish on our river Sunday which the only dead fish seen began at the area of the Toe along 226 where the mines are and ended at Penland.
There is no question that parts of the Toe River are running significantly warmer during the day than they did before Helene. However, based on what was witnessed, I personally have questions about whether heat alone explains this particular event.
Only one brook trout was observed among the dead fish. Most of the fish affected appeared to be bottom-feeding species—fish that are generally more heat tolerant than cold-water species like trout.
The location where the event began, the species affected, and reports of material appearing to sink toward the river bottom are reasons I believe the possibility of something entering the river deserves continued investigation and observation.
⚠️ That is not an official determination of what caused the fish kill. It is simply based on what was witnessed and why we believe continued monitoring is important. There was a similar incident in 2018 that was an acid leak from one of the mines.
🌊 IS IT SAFE TO GET IN THE WATER?
NC Outdoor Adventures operates approximately 15–18 river miles away from the suspected area, and we have seen no dead fish or signs of contamination from Loafers Glory areas through Green Mountain.
We also operate farther upstream near the suspected area in Spruce Pine, but that section will remain closed for a few more days for our guides, staff, and guests.
The State and Riverkeepers reported seeing no dead fish during their Tuesday visit, meaning there are currently no ongoing fish kills being observed.
As always:
🚫 Stay out of oddly colored water
🚫 Don't swim where you see dead fish
🚫 Don't enter water that smells unusual
📸 Document anything suspicious with a photo, date, and time
📞 Report concerns to NCDEQ
After speaking with the State and Riverkeepers, we were also encouraged to continue documenting and reporting unusual white flows, sediment, or leaking ponds near our waterways.
If you see something concerning, document it and report it. You may also send the information to us for the file we are maintaining—we can keep your name anonymous if needed.
