Non-Point source water pollution is a serious issue facing Eastern North Carolina. Although many experts believe that excess nitrates in runoff have caused the recent fish kills in the Neuse River, officials continue to speculate on other potential sources. Hundreds of millions of fish, primarily small bait fish (menhaden), have been killed in almost yearly fish kills along the river, sparking community safety concerns and opening investigations into probable causes. The most probable cause of the excessive nitrates in the water is poor hog waste management systems, which openly leech into local aquifers and fresh water sources. The excessive nitrates in the water fuel rapid algal growth which uses a large portion of the oxygen concentration in the water, basically suffocating nearby fish. Along the Neuse River, the algae athanomyces invadans, goes through blooms when nitrate levels become high enough in the water, and causes deadly open sores on the fish. Riverkeeper Larry Baldwin has been attempting to file lawsuits against weyerhauser and local hog farmers, but has been blocked at many different levels of State Legislature.
Featured image: http://www.riverlaw.us/fishkills.html
Article and image Source: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20131008/ARTICLES/131009718?p=1&tc=pg#gsc.tab=0