Hundreds of dead fish were found floating in shallow water this week.
The ECHO returned to the Sankey Canal at Spike Island on Tuesday morning and to the spot where the piles of dead fish had collected next to a short wooden dam. On the other side of the barrier was a previous section of canal that was now a muddy plane and nearly dried out.
Bags of dead fish removed by volunteers had also been deposited at the water's edge close to the Spike Island boat hut, attracting the attention of flies. These fish included much larger specimens, with one visitor estimating their individual weights at around up to 30 pounds - around the same weight as a medium sized dog - and their aged of up to around 30 years.
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Volunteers have now moved most of the canal’s swans and transferred them to deeper waters, wading through deep mud on Monday evening to complete the rescue.
Residents, who have been shocked by the sight of “gasping” aquatic life, have been warning for months that fish were facing a grisly end with dwindling water levels and the arrival of hotter weather and a scorching heatwave.
There are fears whatever fish remain will die unless rescued, with another Met Office "extreme heat" warning issued for the weekend.
The wave of dying fish came amid a slew of developments in the crisis.
These included a “Save Our Sankey Canal” show of support on Saturday, and an announcement from Derek Twigg, Labour MP for Halton, that he had secured a House of Commons debate on the situation on Tuesday evening.
A meeting is also imminent between campaigners and officials, and last week members of West Bank Boat Club staged a bizarre mock “pee” protest featuring 87-year-old resident Jack Jones holding a hose pipe and pretending to be trying to top up the canal.
Among those shocked by the devastation was Christopher Jones, 34, angler and visitor, who braved the mud to rescue swans on Monday, and returned on Tuesday.
He said: “I’ve always come over here, it’s a nice peaceful place to be.
“I used to fish here as a kid and then when I saw the groups talking about the state Spike Island has been left in I volunteered to help.
“I devoted my time to trying to move a lot of swans that were remaining. We managed to remove eight.”
Sharing his views on the general situation, he said: “It’s disgusting, it should never have been left. Halton Borough Council should have some explaining to do really.
“I’m a very community-based person, it’s nice to see the community trying to rally around to try and help when it should be the council doing this work.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s an end solution to it to be honest.
“I just think the rest of the fish are going to die and the area’s going to become a hazard.”
Lyndsey Byrne, who took part in Monday night's swan rescue, told the ECHO: "Last night was unreal. I arrived home covered in mud from head to toe the swans we got was covered in mud there where people everywhere rescuing fish. It’s awful."
In his announcement of a House of Commons debate on the topic, Derek Twigg MP described the situation as “devastating”.
He said: “I believe that the only way a solution will be found is for all the various organisations and agencies to properly work together.
“I have convened a meeting which I will be attending, along with the Warrington South MP.
“I am bringing together Halton Borough Council, Warrington Borough Council, the Environment Agency (Government department), United Utilities, Groundworks, SCARS and Peel Holdings (new owners of the power station site).
“The meeting is at the end of July as that is the earliest date that HBC had. I want to see a solution found.”
In its latest comprehensive update, Halton Council rubbished a rumour the canal was being allowed to dry up for a supposed housing development.
It added that more than 13,000 fish have been rescued, and reiterated its commitment to the canal.
A council spokeswoman said ward councillors and department officers have been working for “many years” to find a solution to the situation and that the low water levels are being used to complete repairs that otherwise would have been “extremely difficult”.
In a statement to protesters on July 7, Cllr Mike Wharton, council leader, said: “I do hear and understand your concerns.
“I want to assure you again of the Council’s long term commitment to both the Sankey Canal and Spike Island and to finding solutions to the current issues.
“Today, local interest groups have been invited to meet with senior council officers, so that the officers can listen to the groups' concerns and for information to be shared about previous efforts and current plans to address the issues.
“I hope at the meeting there will also be an opportunity to dispel some of the rumours that are currently circulating – including that the Council plans to develop Spike Island for housing – which has absolutely no truth.
“As a result of these discussions, I really do hope that people will be reassured of our good intentions for the canal and Spike Island.”
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