ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A strong odor and the sight of dozens of dead fish floating across Radium Springs Gardens have left regular visitors and newcomers stunned, prompting calls for local officials to clean up the area and determine what caused the widespread fish kill at one of Albany’s signature natural landmarks.

Visitors walking down toward the spring basin this week encountered stagnant, murky water covered in green algae and lined with dead fish, swarmed by thousands of buzzing flies.

Eric Patrick and John Brown came to the gardens expecting a quiet afternoon by the water. Instead, they were greeted by an overpowering stench before reaching the bank.

“The issue right here is, if you can tell, there ain’t no water down here. And you can see a bunch of dead fish,” Patrick said. “This is wildlife. Wildlife has a chance. I like fishing, but this is ridiculous. Ain’t no water here. Don’t know why. The stench is unbelievable.”

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Patrick estimated seeing around 100 dead fish in just one concentrated section, with dead bass, catfish, and bream visible along the perimeter of the water.

“It’s all the way around,” Patrick said. “It’s hard to put a number on it because they’re everywhere.”

For Brown, who visits Radium Springs two to three times a week for peace of mind, the conditions were unprecedented.

“I’ve never seen it like this, ever. I’ve never seen it like this, and I hope I don’t never see it again,” Brown said. “I just want the city to come down here and fix this. Because this belongs not just to me, you, or anybody else, but it belongs to everybody that want to come down here and enjoy this. Because this is a beautiful park.”

Brown compared watching fish swim in the spring to spending time with a therapy animal, noting how quickly stress normally melts away at the site. Now, visitors say they cannot stay long due to the smell and swarms of insects.

First-time visitor, Adi, who lives less than five minutes away, brought her children to see the waters after learning about the historic landmark online.

“We noticed it was a strange smell when we were approaching the parking lot,” Adi said. “This is not what I imagined. I love clear blue waters. As I’m looking, it is dark green waters. Hundreds of dead fish. This makes me uncomfortable because I live less than five minutes away from this area.”

Adi noted that while visitors seek out the gardens for relaxation and recreation, the condition of the water raises broader concerns for wildlife and community wellbeing.

“What can we do to make this a better environment?” Adi asked. “Because for first-timers like myself that’s not from here, that loves nature—how can we not just make myself comfortable, but the fish comfortable?”

District Commissioner Victor Edwards said he is looking into what caused the fish kill and what steps will be taken to remove the dead fish and clean up the gardens.

Officials with the county say they’ve determined a lack of oxygen in the water caused the fish to die. The low oxygen levels happened after the water flow of the spring became very low or stopped entirely.

County officials say representatives with the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have visited the springs with a fisheries biologist to examine the scene.

DNR says when the waterflow at the spring gets low or stops, fresh water is no longer getting into the area at the normal rate. Fish, plants, and other organisms in the water continue to use oxygen, but when those levels get too low, some of the fish can’t survive.

Officials with DNR says bigger, adult fish are usually affected first because they require more oxygen to live. DNR says mostly spotted suckers, largemouth bass, and bream were scene dead at the springs. According to DNR, a similar incident happened around 10-15 years ago when the spring stopped flowing and oxygen levels in the water dropped.

ABOUT WATER USE AND SPRING FLOW AT RADIUM SPRINGS

Radium Springs is connected to the Floridan aquifer, a large underground source of water used throughout the region. It supplies water for homes and communities, businesses, industries, and agriculture.

DNR explained that as more water is taken from the aquifer, groundwater levels can drop. This can reduce the amount of water flowing from Radium Springs and, at times, cause the spring to temporarily stop flowing.

DNR also noted that the spring historically did not stop flowing as often as it has in more recent decades. The aquifer can recharge, or refill, but the amount of water being used can affect the spring’s flow.

Statement from Dougherty County

“After speaking with Mr. Mathis, for additional information regarding DNR’s assessment of the site, including a more detailed explanation of the environmental conditions that may have contributed to the fish deaths, you may want to contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources directly.

Dougherty County became aware approximately one week ago of several dead fish at Radium Springs and contacted the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for guidance.

A DNR representative visited the site and assessed the situation. The county was advised that fish deaths can occur naturally when water becomes stagnant and dissolved oxygen levels decrease. DNR advised the county not to remove the fish and to allow the natural process to take its course as water conditions change. The county will continue to monitor conditions at Radium Springs and will consult with DNR if additional concerns arise."

County officials emphasize there is no danger to the public.

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