The Canal Runs Red

[John McLaughlin]

Our canal and those around us look like the River of Blood. I have never seen this color in our canal over the 35 plus years we have own our property. So I am looking for some ideas that might be causing it. Our Association wants to say is it caused by algae bloom, however, there is no algae to be seen. I am concerned that unless this clears up it will permanently discolor the hull.

 

[Whisky]

Could there be some severe turbulence or runoff somewhere upstream agitating a red clay or silt?

 

[Liveto99]

Look what it did to that kayak! How long did that sit in it?

 

[zipper]

I don't know your location relative to salt water, but this happens in Fla.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I had a post here about the red tide last fall and just how bad it was to all the fish and people I sure hope it is not around this summer , your color looks a bit different though could there be iron bleeding into the water. https://jetboaters.net/threads/red-tide.19817/

https://jetboaters.net/threads/this-red-tide-is-killing.19860/

Someone will need to test samples to determine what it is but most likely a micro organism is responsible. Global warming may be somehow responsible I just noticed the big changes in the weather patterns and the hurricane patterns in the last few years as well as the higher water temperatures from a decade ago and longer I recall refusing to go in the water here if it went below 60 now I don't see it that low.

 

[J-RAD]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, if it is caused by an algal bloom as suggested by your HOA, then the red in the water is the algea. Therefore your statesmen about how "there is no algea to be seen" would be incorrect. The algea is suspended in the water causing the discoloration. Many of our waterways here in Utah have been plagued by blooms of green algea. The risk with the green algea here is the resulting cyanobacteria that is a byproduct, which is a potentially hazardous neurotoxin. For your sakes, I hope it doesn't last.

 

[John McLaughlin]

To be honest I really have no idea what is causing it, however, I do not believe it is red tide or algae. We are located at the end of the canal system and approximately 3 1/2 miles from the river that leads into the bay which is about another 1/2 to 3/4 of mile away. I have also noted that is not in other canals that are closer to river so if I had to guess it is something bleaching into the water via the bulkheads in our area or under one of the bulkheads. The good thing is I have a while before I intend to put my boat in the water so I am hoping it will gone by then

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

It reminds me of the French river in Webster Massachusetts all the textile plants had dye brooks that went directly into that river, keep in mind I am traveling back in time to the 60's and no one cared what they did. The river changed colors daily depending on what dye was being used that day, made for some colorful water birds.

 

[Dixie Highway]

You should grab a sample in a mason jar, see if a local water treatment company can test it for iron. Has the city been flushing hydrants lately? That’s awful red to be clay, and not likely organic as it looks to be somewhat “patchy” in the water.

 

[John McLaughlin]

The Association has put in the circulators and the redness seems to be dissipating and now the canal water looks brownish. I am hoping that in the next week it begins to clear.

 

[John McLaughlin]

The red whatever is now gone as the little green aliens from the sky in the form of pollen have taken over