The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a warning in January 2010 that you do not eat bottom-feeding fish such as channel catfish caught in the Kansas River from Lawrence (below Bowersock Dam) downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River. Bottom-feeding fish in this reach of the river have been found to have unacceptably high PCB levels. This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Also, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a national fish consumption advisory for mercury based on nationwide average mercury levels in fish sampled by their program. EPA recommends eating no more than one 8-ounce serving per week of non-commercial (locally caught) fish. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid eating large-sized predatory fish such as largemouth bass, or consult their physician.

You may have seen signs along the Kansas River warning you about not eating the fish you catch in the river. Unfortunately many of these signs are a decade or more old and the information may not be as current as it should be. You can get the most recent information from our Fish Advisory page and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Each year the Kansas Department of Health and Environment collects fish from locations all around Kansas to analyze tissues for levels of chemicals that are potentially dangerous to human health. If any samples exceed the EPA standards for harmful chemicals they issue a warning for the types of fish (bottom feeders, predatory fish, and so on) and bodies of water (certain stretches of the river, certain lakes) that are potentially contaminated.

In January 2010 KDHE issued its annual health advisory. The good news is that things have gotten better on the Kansas River since 2006, Chlordane is no longer an active contaminate and there is no longer a fish consumption advisory for Wyandotte County. An advisory for PCB contamination in bottom feeding fish (carp, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, bullheads, sturgeons, buffalos, carpsuckers and other sucker species) is still in place for the Kaw from Lawrence (below Bowersock Dam) downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River. Bottom-feeding fish pick up contaminants from the sediment as well as through feeding on bottom dwelling organisms such as insects that live in the sediment. Chemicals like PCB’s tend to accumulate in this part of the river.

In addition, there is a national advisory issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for mercury contamination in large-sized predatory fish such as largemouth bass. The EPA recommends that you follow the guidance of local fish consumption advisories issued by agencies such as KDHE. In  Kansas there is an advisory issued for the main stem of the Blue River from U.S. 69 Highway to the Kansas/Missouri state line (Johnson County).