What Causes Table Rock To Have The Most Slime Every Year Compare To Other Missouri Lakes ?

[smallmouths fight]

I"VE been fishing table rock for 30yrs,in the last 10 years or so theres this slime problem does any one know why,it sure is a pain

[Sam]

The slime is a type of algae, and like any other plant it grows real good when it gets fertilizer.

With the huge population growth in this area and all the septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, lawns, golf courses, etc. that drain into these lakes, it's a wonder they've been able to keep them as clean as they are. It's no surprise that they're getting more nutrients than they used to, though.

[edwin]

Ya got me on exactly what the conditions need to be, but I'd have to bet it has to do with multiple factors that add up. I recall a summer probaby 30-33 yrs ago where we had moss / algae growing on the surface between the dock (20 stall dock that ran parallel to the shore) and the shore. It was at least 2-3" thick and just nastly stuff. No idea we had it that year and never seen it since.

If I had to guess, I'd say the cold winter has something to do with it.

[fozzie.]

If it's just during the early and mid spring, it may just be seasonal blooms of algae/diatoms/bryzoans. They tend to grow quickly and produce large, slimy masses for a few months in spring, before the leaves shade them out.

Not only are the septic problems an issue, but this is the time of year when everyone's putting down fertilizer, too. When that stuff gets washed into the reservoir, you can expect to see a lot more algae growth.

[gitnby]

I can't remember who told me this, but it goes along with what was said about the cold winter.

Apparently, there are small plants/organisms that are always present in the shallow water. (less than 30 feet)

It creates a silty layer over everything.

The moss can't or won't develop when these organisms are present.

When we have the extreme cold, those organisms die off and that allows the moss to attach, grow and flourish.

Sorta makes sense?

The septic run-off, fertilizer, etc may help the cause, but I remember seeing this stuff 30+ years ago too.

[fishinwrench]

Pollen contributes to algae blooms in the early Spring.

[Buzz Bait]

Several years ago we had an exceptional amount of algae around our dock. I contacted the DNR because we were concerned about septic/sewage issues. The DNR inspector came and told us that because snow contains a lot of nitrogen, the more snowfall during the winter, the more algae we get in the spring.

[Sam]

The DNR inspector came and told us that because snow contains a lot of nitrogen, the more snowfall during the winter, the more algae we get in the spring.

I just added up the populations of Greene, Christian, Stone, and Taney counties and it comes to well over half a million people. That's not counting folks in the White River basin west of Stone County, or those in the areas of Arkansas that drain into our lakes. Every one of those people are using the indoor plumbing daily and most of them are taking care of lawns.

Then at Long Creek the other day I noticed a herd of cows wading - you know what cows do a lot of. Rain washes across all those cow pastures and into the water, and the cattle are there because of human activity too.

The DNR says it's SNOW putting nutrients into the water, huh? Well, maybe it does some. How do you get one of those government jobs?

[fozzie.]

That's not including some of the poultry operators and other CAFOs in the area. I can't recall the precise statistics offhand, but some of those facilities can produce as much sewer as a decent-sized town.

[smallmouthjoe]

I just added up the populations of Greene, Christian, Stone, and Taney counties and it comes to well over half a million people. That's not counting folks in the White River basin west of Stone County, or those in the areas of Arkansas that drain into our lakes. Every one of those people are using the indoor plumbing daily and most of them are taking care of lawns.

Then at Long Creek the other day I noticed a herd of cows wading - you know what cows do a lot of. Rain washes across all those cow pastures and into the water, and the cattle are there because of human activity too.

The DNR says it's SNOW putting nutrients into the water, huh? Well, maybe it does some. How do you get one of those government jobs?

It's funny that this was mentioned because I recently had a lecture in Ecology that was talking about this same thing. Apparently, when the snow forms it will pick up some of the nitrogen oxide that is emitted by internal combustion engines and when it falls nitrogen will accumulate in the snow. Then when we receive a day or two of mild weather all of the nitrogen that has been trapped in the snow will be released all at once. I do believe that the bulk of building block elements does come from agricultural and septic tank runoff, but the DNR agent may also be right in his thinking.