Sound Transit has a dead fish problem

Thousands of fish have been found dead in Lake Washington, possibly electrocuted by equipment from the new Crosslake light rail system.

This was first reported by The Seattle Times.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) staff noticed the dead fish on the lakebed on Aug. 3. They were in an area near where anode “strings” hang down from the tracks and touch the lakebed. Most of the deaths appear to be concentrated on the east and west sides of the span, according to Sound Transit.

The deaths were revealed in a Sound Transit board committee meeting on Sept. 3.

“Sound Transit takes this issue very seriously,” Sound Transit spokesperson Rachelle Cunningham said in an email. “Upon being notified, we responded immediately, deploying dive teams and engaging fish biologists and engineers, while coordinating with regulatory agencies and Tribal fisheries managers to investigate the areas in question. By Aug. 23, we implemented an interim mitigation measure.”

Sound Transit lifts anode strings off lake bed as interim fix

That interim solution is as simple as lifting the strings up so they aren’t touching the lake bed anymore.

There are 32 strings that are part of a system designed to protect the bridge and tracks from corroding. They emit a low-level electrical current that’s not believed to be a danger to humans.

More study will be needed to document the issue, investigate the exact cause of the deaths, and see if that first attempt to mitigate the damage can be a permanent one.

The anode strings have been part of the Crosslake design from the early stages, according to The Seattle Times. Cunningham said Sound Transit studied other rail systems around the world to develop this one, and there had never been documented harm to marine life.

“This type of electrical management system has been widely tested and is used both locally and throughout the world on bridges and other aquatic structures with no negative impact on fish populations,” she said. “We are committed to working diligently and collaboratively with our partners to address this issue.”

Dead salmon raise the stakes: Several species in Lake Washington are federally protected

First reports show mostly nonnative fish among the dead. There were some salmon found as well.

Dead salmon could present a much bigger issue if the deaths continue. Several species are federally protected. Lake Washington is home to sockeye, Chinook, and coho salmon.

Washington already spends millions of dollars every year to protect fish. For context, the state legislature provided about $1 billion for WSDOT fish passage projects alone, according to state records.

Read more of Jillian Raftery’s stories here.