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Families worried over health after thousands of dead fish pop up in community lake

Residents were told aeration problems were to blame for the large fish die-off.

MARICOPA, Ariz. - Health concerns are now an issue for families dealing with thousands of dead fish popping up in their community lake.

“What is the effect on the dog that gets loose and finds one laying around? Kids out playing in the dirt after those fish have been laying there? I mean, these are things that directly affect each of us that live in the lakes,” said Alicia Rasmussen, a resident of the Rancho El Dorado community in Maricopa.

Pinal County’s Environmental Health Department is working on answers in regards to Rasmussen’s concerns.

It says it’s been out here and plans to be back in four days to make sure the problem is taken care of, but questions still remain for Rasmussen.

“What is killing them? We need a definitive answer. We can’t just go, well it could be this, that or three other things. We need a definitive answer. These fish need to be looked at. The water needs to be tested.”

Residents tell 12 News they were told aeration problems are the reason why so many fish are dying, but the neighborhood’s property management company hasn’t returned several calls made by 12 News.

Families say the dead fish started popping up Sunday morning. Several of them contacted the their HOA and they do say crews have been spotted taking out the dead fish, but they’re still not all out, and they still appear to continue to turn up dead.

12 News will continue to follow this story for answers.

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