In the photo Paulespo posted the algae seen is at the downstream end of the big creek pool that all the hot water flows pour into. One hot summer day I got a temp of over 90 degrees, surface temp, out in the middle of that big pool. This year after the big 7.1 earthquake various regulars have cited that the flow and temps of the hot water sources have both increased so this would warm up the big creek pool even more. Algae grows more in warmer water so it may be this year the algae is more abundant from DCHS and on downstream a ways because of the hotter and bigger hot source flows. I have noticed taking temps over the years that the hot flows at DCHS do warm up the creek temps downstream, then the further on down the canyon you go the stream temps drop back down since the extra heat gets dissipated. In the first few miles of the creek, going upstream from the Mohave Forks dam the stream temps are cooler because the canyon is so deep and there is more shade on the creek water for longer parts of the day.

Here is one article about toxic algae: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-08-14/everything-you-need-to-know-about-toxic-algae-blooms



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2019 07:36PM by Wizard.