Fish kill source on Penns Creek tributary in Centre Co. (near Woodward) still under investigation as concerned citizen shares details about report

A variety of different species found dead during a March 4 fish kill situation on Pine Creek in Centre County near Woodward (a tributary to Penns Creek) gathered for potential sampling by PA Fish and Boat Commission. Photo provided by Sarah DePasquale.

​The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continues to investigate a fish kill situation on Pine Creek, a tributary of Penns Creek, in Centre County near Woodward, PA, as well as a second complaint out of Coburn, which is where Pine Creek intersects Penns Creek.
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“Two complaints of fish kills in the Penns Creek watershed in Centre County were recently received by DEP and investigated. One was a localized minor aquatic kill observed on Pine Creek, a tributary to Penns Creek, near the village of Woodward. Investigations were conducted by DEP and PFBC, with no cause or source located to date,” said DEP Press Secretary Neil Shader in an email to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association after a request for info. “The other complaint on Pine Creek near the Coburn area revealed no observable aquatic kill and no readily identified source of contamination. Both investigations continue.”

Sarah DePasquale was the individual who reported the Woodward-area fish kill situation on March 4, 2026. The site is “just 30 feet from my front door,” she said.

“The fish kill here was on Pine Creek between the bridge on Hwy 45 in Woodward and the bridge on Fiedler Road,” she said, adding that she reported the incident, which included dead fish, frogs and crayfish, directly to the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

“Initially they expected it to be normal icing/deoxygenation but when the officers came out they changed their assessment and called DEP and a water quality specialist came out,” she said. “(Fish and Boat) took specimen samples to test and the DEP water quality specialist took water samples.”

However, DePasquale said that in following up with the agencies since the initial report, she was told that none of the samples were tested.   

“What everyone at DEP keeps telling me is that without a source they can't really test or follow up,” she said.

Since the incident, she has noticed an odd bubbling/foam-like build-up on the waterway “which are unlike anything I've seen on the creek in the 10 years I've lived here,” she said.

DePasquale was not aware of the Coburn-area report that DEP referenced in their statement to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. She has done a general water sampling of her home’s well water to make sure that it is safe for her family, but “we really weren't able to test for chemical contaminants in that, as we were trying to quickly determine if there was anything obvious amiss in our well.”

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association continues to look into the situation, requesting more info from the DEP such as the timelines between the two reports on Pine Creek and other details that may help outline potential trends that could illustrate a more definite source.

“We encourage anyone who has information to share it with us so collaboratively we can figure out what may have happened,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. “We are looking into some additional testing and watching for any additional signs and indicators. Fish kill situations can be caused by natural phenomenon that impacts temperature, oxygen levels and other parameters in a stream. However, having so many different species – fish, amphibians and macroinvertebrates – all impacted at the same time is concerning and definitely can point toward something pollution-related. We will share more as we have more info to share.”

Time and conditions play a huge factor in fish kill investigations, as is shared in this article we did on how investigations are done. Learn more about reporting an incident via DEP, PA Fish and Boat Commission or by having our association help you with the process by going to www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org/report-a-concern.html