Drought Turns Water in Texas Lake Blood Red
Posted on August 5, 2011
Lakes are drying up in Texas from the massive and severe drought, which is starting to expand into neighboring states. Most of Texas is listed as D4 - Exceptional drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Weather.com says 32% of the Lower 48 States is in drought right now. The drought area makes up over 1 million square miles. The area of exceptional drought covers 340,000 square miles.
At the O.C. Fisher Reservoir near San Angelo, Texas the water has turned a reddish color. Scientists believe the red color is caused by a bacteria. A preacher (see here) and a couple young girls in the video below seem to think the red color is a biblical sign, but scientists from the Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife say the red color is caused by Chromatiaceae, a bacteria that thrive in conditions like this (low water levels plus warm weather).
All the fish in the lake are dead from oxygen deprviation. Take a look: