Weird Cloudiness In The Lake

[bassin' 4 life]

So I went out on the lake today, and as I pulled the boat out, I looked down and saw this weird green/brown cloud just under the surface. I then proceeded to find that the whole east side of the lake had it. It's not consistent and some is darker some thicker, but it literally covered half the lake. It really just looked like the whole bottom of the lake had come up.

Anybody know anything? I have never seen or heard of it before. By the way, the lake has about 1 mile of shore line, so it's not very big.

[Hyrule Bass]

where are you from? is it pollin already? is there construction near by thats possibly causing dirt to drift over into the water? was there an algae bloom?

[Fishing Rhino]

Where are you?  Has it rained?  Is there any construction on that side of the pond.  How deep is it?

 

There are some waters around here where decomposition gasses get trapped in or beneath bottom layers of, for lack of a better word, gunk.  But that happens later in the summer when water temps peak.  In the fall, the gunk settles back to the bottom.

 

Some of it will rise to the surface and some will suspend below the surface being tethered by whatever, that only lets it rise so far.

 

We refer to it as "undulating bottom".

[TrippyJai]

It's probably an algae blooms, either that or they sprayed chemicals or done something to kill off all the weed.

[BrianinMD]

Spring lake turnover?

[bassin' 4 life]

Western Washington state. There are no inlets, and no construction nearby. It is not chemicals. It has been raining and the stuff is suspended under the surface over 3 feet to 40 feet of water. the lake is only 50 deep. Pollen we get a LOT of pollen here and I have never seen this before. I don't know anything about algae blooms, but it's possible.

[bassin' 4 life]

The water also seems warmer than normal.

[Penguino]

Have you noticed any fish lying belly up in the water? If so, then it probably is a red algae bloom AKA fishkill.

[bassin' 4 life]

Have not seen any dead fish. I went out yesterday and this stuff was not there, so I don't know how fast it kills fish...?

[Penguino]

Have not seen any dead fish. I went out yesterday and this stuff was not there, so I don't know how fast it kills fish...?

If its gone after a day, then it probably isn't algae. Probably just some muck that got turned over from the bottom by carp.

[Fishing Rhino]

What about wind direction?  Has it been blowing toward the affected side?

[bassin' 4 life]

There are no carp in the lake. And like I said, it is HALF the lake. Yes I think the wind has been blowing that way.

[fishballer06]

I would guess spring turnover

[J Francho]

It sounds like a algae bloom.

[RanndomUndead]

If it was green, Its algae more than likely. If its yellowish/green, its pollen.

Really your only 2 culprits

[bassin' 4 life]

Yup it's algae. Cool, I've never seen that before. it was weird though.

[Hyrule Bass]

Have you noticed any fish lying belly up in the water? If so, then it probably is a red algae bloom AKA fishkill.

an algae bloom does not always equal a fish kill. fish kills from algae bloom usually only happens in bodies of water with low oxygen levels, as the algae bloom depletes the oxygen in the water even further...

[Penguino]

an algae bloom does not always equal a fish kill. fish kills from algae bloom usually only happens in bodies of water with low oxygen levels, as the algae bloom depletes the oxygen in the water even further...

Ummm.... no offense but your wrong. Red Algae blooms don't only deplete oxygen. Blue and other types do, and may be beneficial to the lake. But red algae blooms are a total different beast.

 "Red tide algae make potent natural toxins. It is unknown why these toxins are created, but some can be hazardous to larger organisms throught the processes of biomagnification and bioaccumulation. Grazers such as fish and krill are unaffected by the toxins, so as they eat the algae the toxins are concentrated and accumulate to a level that is poisonous eat to organisms that feed on them. Large fish kills and several mammalian diseases and deaths have been attributed to consumption of shellfish during red tide algal blooms."

 

This quote isn't mine, but what I am trying to show is that red algae blooms not only decrease oxygen, but also essentially "poison" the fish. So most of the time, in big concentrations like the OP mentioned, a red algae bloom usually amounts to a fishkill. But after thinking about it, due to their being no fish killed, the algae the OP saw was probably blue or some other type.

[RoLo]

Spring lake turnover?

 

In lakes that stratify, the fall-turnover is a major event that impacts the entire waterbody.

When the fall-turnover is complete the water at all depths has the same temperature and density (homogenous).

 

In contrast, the spring-turnover is a benign event that only involves a skinny layer of water

between 32 degrees (melting ice) and 39 degrees (heaviest water).

 

Roger

[Todd2]

You learn something new everyday...never had heard of a spring turnover.

[Bankbeater]

Have you contacted the state.conservation dept.? Something like this may interest them.

[Hyrule Bass]

Ummm.... no offense but your wrong. Red Algae blooms don't only deplete oxygen. Blue and other types do, and may be beneficial to the lake. But red algae blooms are a total different beast.

 "Red tide algae make potent natural toxins. It is unknown why these toxins are created, but some can be hazardous to larger organisms throught the processes of biomagnification and bioaccumulation. Grazers such as fish and krill are unaffected by the toxins, so as they eat the algae the toxins are concentrated and accumulate to a level that is poisonous eat to organisms that feed on them. Large fish kills and several mammalian diseases and deaths have been attributed to consumption of shellfish during red tide algal blooms."

 

This quote isn't mine, but what I am trying to show is that red algae blooms not only decrease oxygen, but also essentially "poison" the fish. So most of the time, in big concentrations like the OP mentioned, a red algae bloom usually amounts to a fishkill. But after thinking about it, due to their being no fish killed, the algae the OP saw was probably blue or some other type.

im speaking of algae blooms in general and in relation to the original post, plus the OP mentioned nothing of dead fish. you cant just assume it was a "red" algae bloom as you have...

[Penguino]

im speaking of algae blooms in general and in relation to the original post, plus the OP mentioned nothing of dead fish. you cant just assume it was a "red" algae bloom as you have...

Now I'm getting annoyed. Let it be known that "Red Earth" was the original perpetrator who challenged the words I said. I never wanted to start this debate over my diction.

 

I never said that it was 100% a red algae bloom. I only said that if there was a fishkill, then there would probably be a red algae bloom. Immediately after the OP stated that there wasn't a fishkill, I concurred and said " then it probably isn't algae". So I don't get how I explicity said " it was a "red" algae bloom". LOL

 

Life Lesson Read all the posts in the thread before you start critizing  and contradicting others.

[Hyrule Bass]

Now I'm getting annoyed. Let it be known that "Red Earth" was the original perpetrator who challenged the words I said. I never wanted to start this debate over my diction.

 

I never said that it was 100% a red algae bloom. I only said that if there was a fishkill, then there would probably be a red algae bloom. Immediately after the OP stated that there wasn't a fishkill, I concurred and said " then it probably isn't algae". So I don't get how I explicity said " it was a "red" algae bloom". LOL

 

Life Lesson Read all the posts in the thread before you start critizing  and contradicting others.

dude, you went on to give a history/biology lesson of red algae blooms. you brung it up specifically, not me. you felt the need to call me wrong on a post that was not wrong, and then took it off on this whole tangent. but if you feel the need to "win" and point fingers in a discussion that you seem to be taking as an argument and getting all butt hurt over and taking personal then go ahead kiddo, you win its all yours ring the bell and drop the ticker tape confetti, im not going to argue all day with 13 year olds. if youre going to take it personal and go on a tirade everytime someone responds to one your posts and it dont mesh with your post then you got a lot to learn about message boards and life in general.

[J Francho]

Stay on topic!