DNR updates safe fish consumption guidelines for La Crosse River

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that it was updating fish consumption guidelines for several water bodies in the state, including the La Crosse River.

The DNR and Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the updates in its Safe Fish Consumption Guidelines publication, which was released Tuesday.

One of the five changes to the publication included a PFOS advisory for fish caught in the La Crosse River between Angelo Pond in Monroe County and the Neshonoc Dam in La Crosse County. The advisory includes fish in Perch Lake and Neshonoc Lake.

According to the PFOS advisory, for most fish caught in the La Crosse River, people should limit their intake to one meal per month. The size of the fish doesn’t change the advice offered by the DNR and DHS.

“We test for contaminants in fish from a number of locations each year and use those new results, along with past testing, to update the advice for those newly tested waters,” Sean Strom, DNR environmental toxicologist, said in a release. “It’s important for anglers who frequently eat fish to be aware of advisory updates.”

The DNR said that while eating fish can have health benefits, there are pollutants in the environment that can cause health risks for people who eat fish as well.

“When you follow Wisconsin’s fish consumption advice, you are still able to enjoy the many health benefits from eating fish while limiting your contact with contaminants that can build up in them,” Dr. Sheryl Bedno, DHS Chief Medical Officer for Environmental and Occupational Health, said in a release.

Contaminants in Wisconsin waterways include mercury, PCBs, and PFOS, the last of which is the primary concern in the La Crosse River.

Fish species covered in the La Crosse River PFOS advisory include black crappie, bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass and northern pike, which are recommend to be limited to one meal per month. The advisory also includes pumpkinseed and yellow perch, with a limit of one meal per week.

Waterbody-specific consumption advice can be found in the updated online booklet and by using the DNR’s online query tool.