Missouri conservation officials say tens of thousands of fish turned up dead in creek

Missouri conservation officials are monitoring a Kansas City fish kill where 50,000 fish have turned up dead in the past week.

"All the large carp were found in a pool or pond area between two concrete weirs from Bruce R. Watkins Drive to downstream of Elmwood Avenue," a department news release said.  Biologists believe heavy rain may have raised water levels and cause the carp to swim upstream into that area. When the levels dropped, the fish weren't able to swim out to the Blue River, which connects to the Missouri River.  They also noted that concrete structures sometimes create stagnant water conditions with high temperatures and low oxygen that can trigger "fish dies offs."