The State - News from Sept. 30, 1985

Fish and water samples will be analyzed in state laboratories to determine why 215,000 rainbow trout were found dead at the American River Trout Hatchery below Folsom Lake. “Vandalism is suspected,” Royce Gunter, assistant manager of the state-run hatchery, said. The kill affected 10% of next year’s crop of trout at the facility. “It looks like someone dumped something in the water overnight,” said Paul Jensen, regional manager for the state Department of Fish and Game. “I don’t recall anyone ever poisoning fish out there, if that’s what actually happened there this time.” Gunter and Jensen said it is unlikely that any humans will be affected by the water because any toxic substance would have been quickly diluted.