Mt. Nusatsum

Mt. Nusatsum

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Iron Bacteria

 

It didn't take long after the some of the tributary streams to the Bella Coola River were freshly scoured this fall for the nice clean gravel to be covered by the iron consuming bacteria that produces a red slime.  It's very common and widespread in Bella Coola because we have streams with high iron content in the water.  It shows well in the winter time and especially after a stream bed has been cleaned out after a flood. 


Today in the Bella Coola Valley we have outflow (east winds) blowing again.  While so far the temperatures aren't at "Arctic outflow" levels, tonight it is in the -2 C range and gusty.  Grizzly
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1 comment:

  1. Chinle MillerSunday, December 19, 2010 6:29:00 AM

    Really interesting. I had a house in W. Colorado with a well that had high iron content. I couldn't wash my clothes in it or they would turn red. After a few months living there, my hair started turning a beautiful red color (I'm naturally dark blonde) from showering in it. Filters etc. couldn't get the iron out, so I tried living with it. My flagstones turned red from where I watered the flowers. I have also noticed red in streams like you mention, I always wondered why.

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