Lake Wilhelmina fish not a risk to humans  

MENA  - A recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency calls into question the water quality at Lake Wilhelmina. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials believe that even though the report lists the lake as an impaired water body, the lake and its fish are not polluted and not a health risk to humans.

Wilhelmina was named in an EPA report designating 29 rivers, lakes and streams in Arkansas as being pollution-impaired waters. AGFC fisheries officials believe that the designation has many local fishermen unnecessarily concerned about the 300-acre lake’s bountiful sportfish population.

According to AGFC assistant fisheries division chief Mike Armstrong, there is no cause for alarm. “The lake is not polluted and the fish, both wild and pen raised, are safe to eat,” Armstrong said. “The listing is the result of a national water standard designed to protect human health, which is a good thing, but being implemented in a cookie cutter manner in a situation where it is not appropriate,” he explained.

It is important that the lake have high nutrient loads to support a large sport fish population, according to AGFC fisheries pathologist Jon Stein. “The lake is not managed for any other recreational activities such as swimming or water skiing. In fact, submerged stumps and woody debris prohibit these recreational activities,” Stein said.

Bacteria in the lake showed abnormally high concentrations of fecal matter. The highest indications of contamination came from areas near the net pen operation on the lake. The AGFC raises catfish in the summer and trout in the winner at the net pens. As samples were taken farther away from the pens, the amount of bacteria went down significantly. No fishing or swimming is allowed in the area near the pens.

Bill Keith, water planning manager for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, echoed Armstrong’s statements. “Our concerns are that the indications of high amounts of warm-blooded animal fecal matter are false positives that could have come from other sources such as birds or soil contamination,” Keith said. “The chances are not very likely that this contamination comes from humans. It is certainly not a concern with the fish,” he added.

Although the two agencies do not agree with the designation, both agencies have said they plan to cooperate fully to address the matter with the EPA. “We suspect the high levels are due to our cage culture operation that trigger these levels of bacteria that falsely indicate human wastes. Because of Wilhelmina’s remote location and relatively pristine watershed, we know the lake is not a human health risk,” Armstrong explained.

Wilhelmina is in northwest Polk County about six miles west of Mena. It was built in 1958 and has several species of sportfish including bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish. The AGFC maintains a concrete boat ramp and fishing pier on the lake’s southeast side and a dirt launching area on the west side. A primitive camping area and picnic tables are situated on the east side.

Access to the lake is off Arkansas Highway 8 west of Mena. Signs mark the turnoff leading to the dam, boat ramp and other facilities.