2,000 Fish Relocated from Magic Kingdom Following Rivers of America Draining

Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom is now drained, but its fish inhabitants were saved and relocated.

Rivers of America Fish Saved

A drained Rivers of America waterway with muddy ground and a rocky mountain at Disney World under a blue sky.

In a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board meeting, District Administrator Stephanie Kopelousos explained that their fisheries management program ensured fish from the river were safely relocated to the nearby Seven Seas Lagoon. Approximately 2,000 fish were removed from Rivers of America. 10% were miscellaneous species like catfish, Seminole killifish, and mosquitofish; 20% were largemouth bass (a.k.a. Florida bass); and 70% were other types of sunfish.

The Liberty Square Riverboat sails near a dock at sunset, its reflection shimmering on the Rivers of America.

The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island closed permanently in July to make way for a Cars expansion to Frontierland. The most obvious work over the past few weeks has been the draining of the river, with part of the Liberty Square Riverboat track recently removed. There is now scaffolding in the riverbed.

The Liberty Belle riverboat is currently preserved backstage.

Check out our last look at the riverboat and Rivers of America.

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