Delta's mysterious bubbles

A

Arnold

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2003
RO Number
12330
Messages
544
I just came back from three great days in the Delta. We spent the first night at the Delta Yacht Club which is a beautiful place and the second night at Rio Vista. My friend has a Carver 57 and we had some concerns about docking there since the guest docks area is not too wide but we made it OK. Anyway, on our way to the Stockton Yacht Harbor, almost toward the end of the channel, I noticed several spots where air seemed to come up to the surface from the bottom of the river.
Does anybody know what it is?
 
I've seen that too. Looks like all the other irrigation discharge pipes that you see throughout the delta.
 
http://www.stocktongov.com/waterfront/2006bubbler-Spring.cfm I am assuming you mean underneath 5.......if not....disregard
 
If you are talking about massive amounts of air then it would be from drainage pumps that are draining the farmlands back into the delta. You can usually see the pipes going over the top of the levee. The pumps would suck up a fair amount of air as it pumps the water.

If you are talking about the occasional bubble that surfaces then it would actually be methane gas. The ground under the water is basically peat soil which is basically an accumulation of decaying vegetation. As the vegetation decays it gives off a bit of gas which bubbles to the surface.

You can really see this when drop or raise an anchor. The soil will have a fair amount of gas trapped in it that will suddenly get released when you stir the bottom. If your anchor is dragging you will be able to see the bubbles over the spot where your anchor is. When you are raising the anchor you know that it has broke free when you see the large amount of bubbles get released.

Rod
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top