Toxic Algae

[Mitch f]

The state of the Meramec this year, with it's very low but not clear water, has made me think of some of the causes of an over abundance of algae. Maybe fertilizer run off from farms or something. I don't know that I've ever seen murkier water for being this low. That's the reason this article caught my eye:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/02/Toxic-Water-Algae-in-Toledo-Leads-to-State-of-Emergency

[Old plug]

Yes Mitch I can guarantee you it is something with with farms ,livestock in the water shed and cabins along the bank. You could maybe make a long list of what something is.

[fishinwrench]

I know one thing... If the Little Niangua watershed doesn't get a flush before long the algae is going to choke out fairly large sections of that river.

I've never seen it this low or this slimey. The fish look good (fat & healthy) as of yesterday, but living in that crap long term can't be very healthy.

[Tim Smith]

I know one thing... If the Little Niangua watershed doesn't get a flush before long the algae is going to choke out fairly large sections of that river.

I've never seen it this low or this slimey. The fish look good (fat & healthy) as of yesterday, but living in that crap long term can't be very healthy.

This is attached algae, right? Filamentous stuff growing on the bottom.

Sounds a little different from the Meramac where the issue is clarity in the water column. Is the problem in the Meramac definitely algae? Could it be resuspended sediment? A landslide or poor erosion control or an explosion of carp populations can make things look bad pretty quickly.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Hiked Castlewood on Saturday, and the river is really low, but like others have said, I couldn't believe how murky it was. Never noticed it being that brown when it is so low.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Why is everything below normal. Rainfall this year is closer to average than it has been in the past few years???

[Old plug]

In places Wayne. here at LOZ it has been dry. That applies to most of the region as well.

[stlfisher]

Been very dry at my house this year...seem like the year of have and have not's. It is not all that different than 2012 for me precipitation wise. Temperatures have been the saving grace though. I can still see the lawn mower tracks in my yard from when I cut it 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Interesting about the Meramec. Was it like that in 2012? . My subdivision pond is actually experiencing the opposite effect this year. It is usually full of algae and is about half of what it normally is...not sure if cool dry weather has prevented if from getting out of control like most years.

[Quillback]

It's been dry here also, rain to the south, rain to the north, but it keeps missing my little corner of Arkansas.

[Mitch f]

This is attached algae, right? Filamentous stuff growing on the bottom.

Sounds a little different from the Meramac where the issue is clarity in the water column. Is the problem in the Meramac definitely algae? Could it be resuspended sediment? A landslide or poor erosion control or an explosion of carp populations can make things look bad pretty quickly.

Could very well be suspended sediment. But it's never been like this that I can remember. It sometimes has a slight gray color.