Chattahoochee Riverkeeper reports 'thousands' of fish dead along 20 miles of river

Several fish belly-up, deceased, in a floating mass of pine straw, sticks, litter and debris in the Chattahoochee River.
Several fish found dead in the Chattahoochee River on Friday, May 22, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Jason Ulseth)

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is reporting a major fish kill on the Chattahoochee River in west Atlanta. 

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth said early Friday morning he was doing a routine patrol of the river. 

“And just started seeing dead fish floating by, very unusual — And then I start looking along the banks and there was just thousands of dead fish in the river for a span of well over 20 miles,” Ulseth said.