Fish Advisory for Senator Wash Reservoir Offers Safe Eating Advice for Five Fish Species
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SAM DELSON
(916) 764-0955
Sam.Delson@oehha.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – A state fish advisory issued today for Senator Wash Reservoir in Imperial County provides safe eating advice for black bass species, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Striped Bass, and Sunfish Species.
Senator Wash Reservoir is located approximately 18 miles northeast of Yuma, AZ, on the California side of the Colorado River. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) developed the recommendations based on the levels of mercury and selenium found in fish caught from the reservoir.
The fish species tested at Senator Wash Reservoir had lower contaminant levels than is typical at many other California water bodies. All species tested at Senator Wash Reservoir can be eaten at least two times a week.
“Many fish have nutrients that may reduce the risk of heart disease and are excellent sources of protein,” said Dr. Lauren Zeise, director of OEHHA. “By following our guidelines for fish caught in Senator Wash Reservoir, people can safely eat fish low in chemical contaminants and enjoy the well-known health benefits of fish consumption.”
When consuming fish from Senator Wash Reservoir, all populations may safely eat a maximum of four total servings per week of Channel Catfish, or three servings per week of Common Carp or sunfish species, or two servings per week of black bass species or Striped Bass.
One serving is an eight-ounce fish fillet, measured prior to cooking, which is roughly the size and thickness of your hand. Children should eat smaller servings. For small fish species, several individual fish may make up a single serving.
A poster with the safe eating advice for Senator Wash Reservoir is available on OEHHA’s website in both English and Spanish. For fish species found in Senator Wash Reservoir that are not included in this advisory, OEHHA recommends following the statewide advisory for eating fish from California lakes and reservoirs without site-specific advice.
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that is released into the environment from mining and burning coal. It accumulates in fish in the form of methylmercury, which can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in developing children and fetuses. Because of this, OEHHA provides a separate set of recommendations specifically for children up to age 17 and women of childbearing age (18–49 years).
Selenium is an essential nutrient that is naturally present in the environment. However, high-level exposure can cause health problems such as hair loss, gastrointestinal distress, dizziness, and tremors.
Eating fish in amounts slightly greater than the advisory’s recommendations based on mercury or selenium is not likely to cause health problems if it is done occasionally, such as eating fish caught during an annual vacation.
The Senator Wash Reservoir advisory joins more than 100 other OEHHA advisories that provide site-specific, health-based fish consumption advice for many of the places where people catch and eat fish in California, including lakes, rivers, bays, reservoirs, and the California coast. Advisories are available on OEHHA’s Fish Advisories web page.
OEHHA’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of Californians and our state’s environment through scientific evaluations that inform, support, and guide regulatory and other actions.
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- May 6, 2021
