State environmental officials and Greenwood County leaders have issued a warning for people and pets to stay out of the water in portions of Lake Greenwood while investigators work to determine why large numbers of fish died in the lake’s Cross Hill area earlier this month. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, the Department of Natural Resources, and Greenwood County are jointly running the investigation.
The die-off, first reported April 13 in the Cross Hill area, involved multiple species including crappie, yellow perch, flathead catfish, striped bass, and bluegill. As of April 24, investigators had ruled out the most common causes — oxygen depletion, excessive algal blooms, and high water temperatures — but had not identified a definitive cause. Both agencies continue receiving and reviewing sample results and are following up on information from local residents.
Two drinking water intake points on Lake Greenwood — operated by Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works and Laurens County Water and Sewer Authority — are not located in the areas where the fish kill was observed, and state officials confirmed both systems remain in full compliance with all drinking water standards. The SCDES April 24 update also noted that investigators have sought information from facilities operating upstream of the kill zone to determine whether any had reported operational issues.
Anyone who observes additional dead fish or has relevant information is asked to call SCDNR’s 24-hour reporting line at 1-800-922-5431. The investigation has drawn attention across the Upstate because Lake Greenwood sits within driving distance of Spartanburg, Anderson, and Laurens counties and is used heavily for fishing, boating, and recreation throughout the spring season.
