What's this?

[wildtrout2]

Does anyone have any idea of what this stuff might be? It's in a tiny creek (non trout stream) just below where there's a sewage treatment facility. It then clears up about 100yrds downstream.

 

[jayL]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_bacteria

I asked the same question a few years back when a similar streamside puddle raised concern.

Images.

 

[JackM]

Your images link sent me to this interesting short article about life on Mars: http://www.shale-mudstone-research-schieber.indiana.edu/iron-microbes.htm

 

[Mike]

Somewhere in my background I recall it being an iron bacterium. This is usually not associated with sewage treatment plants and can be found almost anywhere, always, in my experiences, oozing from a stream-bank water seep (probably some iron in the geology/soil) or in a quiet back eddy along even the most pristine Pa streams.

 

[afishinado]

Mike wrote:
Somewhere in my background I recall it being an iron bacterium. This is usually not associated with sewage treatment plants and can be found almost anywhere, always, in my experiences, oozing from a stream-bank water seep (probably some iron in the geology/soil) or in a quiet back eddy along even the most pristine Pa streams.

Yup,

Here is a link from Jay's post & pic from a while back about iron bacteria on Valley Creek.

Iron bacteria

 

[wildtrout2]

Mike wrote:
.... (probably some iron in the geology/soil) or in a quiet back eddy along even the most pristine Pa streams.

So, since this occurs naturally it's of no threat to wild trout populations? Because now that I give it further thought, I recall seeing it up on Lick Run (oops) in Clinton county a few years ago.