Mountain Island Lake
Affected River Basins
Catawba
Affected Counties
Gaston and Mecklenburg
Fish to avoid:
Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
Generally, choose these fish from the central part of the state:
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Bluegill Sunfish (Brim)
Redbreast Sunfish (Brim)
Redear Sunfish (Brim)
White Bass
White Perch
Pollutants
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Mercury
Advisory
Date issued: April 25, 2013
Update to the advisory issued January 6, 2011. Testing has shown levels of PCBs in blue catfish and channel catfish in Mountain Island Lake exceeding the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. DHHS recommends that no one eat channel catfish from Mountain Island Lake. In addition, public health officials recommend that pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any largemouth bass or blue catfish from Mountain Island Lake. Other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a month of blue catfish from this lake. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish. The PCB and mercury contamination does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in other recreational activites such as touching the water, wading, swimming, boating or handling the fish.