Somerset —

The summer’s long streak of above 90-degree days and few significant rains are beginning to take a toll on some Lake Cumberland fish species. Kentucky Fish and Wil-dlife Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett this week issued a Wildlife Disaster Contin-gency Measure for Lake Cumberland, which incre-ases the creel limits — the maximum number of a species of fish that can be taken by one person from a body of water in a calendar day — and reduces size requirements for striped bass. Because of high water temperatures and low dis-solved oxygen levels, striped bass are under severe stress and in some cases, dying, according to a press release from the Kentucky Dep-artment of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "It makes sense to allow these fish to be harvested for food," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Director Ron Brooks in the press release. "This regulation will also limit the fishing pressure on our remaining striped bass." Gassett took the action pursuant to Regulation 301 KAR 3:040. These temporary changes supersede all regulations concerning fishing in Lake Cumberland. Those regulations now in effect mean anglers can only catch two striped bass over 22 inches. Anglers must not catch and release striped bass over 22 inches, as these released fish are likely to die. After an angler catches two striped bass over 22 inches, the angler must stop fishing for striped bass, but a licensed angler may catch two and net- or hand-grab three additional striped bass over 22 inches that are floating on the surface. Licensed anglers not fishing for striped bass may harvest five striped bass over 22 inches by net- or hand-grab that are floating on the surface. For all other fish species in Lake Cumberland, existing size and creel limits will remain in effect, but dying fish may be harvested by a licensed angler using a landing net or by hand grabbing. The regulations were applied due to what state and federal officials are calling “deteriorating water conditions” on Lake Cumberland. Those officials had been closely monitoring the water conditions. State and federal officials have been closely monitoring water conditions for walleye and striped bass in Lake Cumberland throughout the summer. Biologists noticed a number of striped bass were either dead or dying “due to high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels. With continued hot weather forecast, water conditions will likely continue to deteriorate,” according to the press release. “These conditions are particularly stressful to cool-water species such as striped bass and walleye,” stated the press release. “Fisheries biologists expect the occurrence of dead or dying fish to continue during the next three to four weeks.” The record summer heat and two major rainfalls since spring raised water temperatures and reduced dissolved oxygen in Lake Cumberland to levels that cool water fish species like striped bass and walleyecan’t tolerate for extended periods, according to Fish and Wildlife. Fish species that are more tolerant of warmer water, such as smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill, are not as affected by the current conditions. "We hope that the cooler nights will alleviate some of the problems by dropping the water temperature," said Brooks in the press release. "We're keeping a close eye on this situation and monitoring the impact on the fish." Lake Cumberland is being kept below its normal summer pool while repairs are ongoing to Wolf Creek Dam. The lower lake levels mean it can’t store as much cool water below or above the thermocline, where there is enough oxygen for the cool-water fish. The thermocline is the transition layer between the mixed layer of water at the surface of a body of water and the deep water layer. Walleye and striped bass are especially susceptible to higher water temperatures, stated the press release. “The increased stress on walleye and striped bass caught by anglers during the hottest weather conditions can lead to higher mortality of these species,” the press release said. "Anglers catching these species should not release or attempt to cull legal fish at this time," Brooks said in the document. "We are seeing mortality of mostly stripers this week," Brooks continued. "We believe those fish succumbed to a combination of factors, but primarily from prolonged poor water conditions. A few had likely been caught and released by anglers during the past day or two. Most of the fish were in areas of the lake where conditions were very poor and caused additional continuous stress that they could not overcome." Officials will continue to monitor the water conditions — and the affect it may have on the lake’s wildlife. "Lake Cumberland is an important fishing destination and tourist draw for this region of the United States," Brooks said in the release. "We are concerned about this situation and will continue to keep a close watch on the lake." Tailwater conditions for trout, at this time, are favorable. Conditions in the lake's tailwater are slightly better this year than in the past two years. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Lake Cumberland's Wolf Creek Dam, is working closely with other agencies to monitor water conditions in the lake and its tailwater. Corps officials are also continually adjusting the flow of water from the dam to help support the tailwater's trout fishery and maintain favorable conditions in the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery," said Bob Sneed, water management chief for the Corps' Nashville District, in the press release. The hatchery draws water for its operation from the lake and the tailwater. "We're cooperating closely with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery to find the best solutions within some of the constraints that we face," Sneed said.