Jumping to Conclusions that Suit Your Agenda?

Chesapeake Bay Foundation - High Concentrations of Pfiesteria Underscore Need to Reduce Pollution is a piece about recently discovered pfiesteria in Taskinas Creek. According to the EPA pfiesteria outbreaks are not fully understood. Pfiesteria goes to its toxic form in the presence of large quantities of fish. Pfiesteria exists along the Southeastern seaboard and outbreaks may occur if there is a high density of fish, warm, brackish, poorly flushed waters and high levels of nutrients. This report by the Virginia DEQ was prompted by finding large numbers of dead menhaden in the creek. The deaths were attributed to gill nets used to catch other fish.

The CBF's response was “It is lamentable but perhaps not surprising that high concentrations of Pfiesteria continue to be found in Virginia waterways,” said Jeff Corbin, CBF Virginia Deputy Director. “Past outbreaks of Pfiesteria in the Chesapeake Bay region, including incidents that killed fish and sickened watermen, have occurred in waters heavily polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus.”
While not an untrue statement, it may not fit the case of this outbreak. Fish were not killed by pfiesteria, no one was sickened and no one has reported that the creek was "heavily polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus." The Creek has been reported in the past to be impaired from an unknown source of fecal coliform. Might be more productive to do the hard work and find out if this impairment is due to human activities.