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Mercury pollution lands two more South Dakota lakes on fish consumption advisory list • South Dakota Searchlight [1]

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Date: 2025-05

State officials have added two more South Dakota lakes to the fish consumption advisory list after testing found elevated mercury levels in large walleye.

The state announced Monday that Dry Lake #1 in Clark County and Lake Henry in Kingsbury County have been added to the list.

For Dry Lake #1, health officials recommend limiting consumption of walleye over 21 inches in length. At Lake Henry, the advisory applies to walleye over 24 inches. Walleye in South Dakota can grow to more than 30 inches.

The guidance is based on mercury concentrations detected in fish tissue samples collected through the state’s annual monitoring program.

“Our commitment to public health and safety drives the annual fish sampling program,” said Department of Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt in a news release.

Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, ends up in fish across the United States largely due to atmospheric deposition. Coal-fired power plants release mercury into the air before it settles into lakes and rivers. Bacteria convert it into methylmercury and fish absorb it.

Fish consumption advisories are not enforceable bans but are issued to help people make informed choices to reduce health risks.

“We encourage everyone to check the DOH website for the latest advisories and take necessary precautions when enjoying locally caught fish,” Magstadt said.

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[1] Url: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/mercury-pollution-lands-two-more-south-dakota-lakes-on-fish-consumption-advisory-list/

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