Algea gone overnight at Oxbow

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About two weeks ago when I was down, I looked over the rail between the dock and the shore, and almost all of the algea, that had gotten so thick and dense, was gone! In one week, about 90% of it just disapeared. I know some was egeria ( at least it looked like the pictures) and it is almost gone as well. Someone said it was the water temp dropping into the 60's - anybody really know? Whatever it was, it sure looks better now!

Jim
 
Most likely water temps. I believe that the egeria is native to Brazil so that would explain the die off. But I can assure you that it will make a triumphant return come summer.
 
We must have some really BIG catfish - that was a lot of algea!!

I agree UpperDecker - it was far worse this year than last so next will be terrible. I'm guessing it has to do with reduced water flows and if they get the bypass canal, the sac flow goes down even furthur. Pray and fight for not!

Jim
 
Jim, I think you are right. IF we have a heavy precipitation winter with lots of snow melt slowing through the delta next spring, the problem will be diminished for next summer. Pray for snow everybody!
 
Egeria isn't algae. Algae is the green corn flakes floating in the water. Egeria is a long plant with narrow leaves that grows up from the bottom and gets wrapped up in your prop. Delta Marina in Rio Vista was starting to get some bad patches of Egeria in a few areas, but they got permission to do something about it and I believe they essentially got in there with a rake and pulled it out. It had formed a thick mat on the water, and a week later I came out and it was completely gone. This was a few months back - in my case it wasn't water temp that got rid of it, it was manual labor. Oxbow may have done the same thing - ask.
 
The trouble is raking is a temporary solution which "seeded" the area for future growth. DBW seems to have a successful program in use at Franks Tract using some kind of chemical. Most of egeria in Piper Slu is gone now too! Maybe, being downstream from Franks, your marina will also benefit.

Guess we will find out next summer!
 
You are right - the egeria is a different beast, but we have both. Almost all of both are gone - still some of each, but not nearly as thick and heavy. The marina did not do and raking or spraying - they were just as surprised as the rest of us when it disabeared, and they are the ones that suggested it was water temps. Pray for rain and snow!

Jim
 
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