Events in which hundreds of fish die at Ascarate Lake have not been uncommon over the last decade. Officials blame the fish kills on golden algae blooms that typically occur during winter months and are fueled by the sediment and nutrients that have piled up at the bottom of the lake since it was built in 1939.
Diego Mendoza-Moyers is a reporter at El Paso Matters. He covers energy and the environment, with a focus on topics such as climate change, water, and regional interests in Texas, including El Paso and San Antonio. Diego's work has been featured in MySA, Longview News-Journal, San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle, and El Paso Times.