What is this?

Idlewild and Winnetaska residents report that every spring a reddish sediment and orange substance covering the sand underneath the water can be seen. Sticky foam and a multicolored surface film is also present. See images to the left. Samples were taken by Chris Grobbel, Ph.D. of Ball Environmental Associates from the Lake Michigan beach shoreline directly across from the proposed Nugent pipeline discharge site. About a half-mile north of the Muskegon Heights water filtration plant between Idlewild and Winnetaska neighborhoods. The material has yet to be identified. Analysis is expected in early April. The material is thought to be iron bacteria. Tom Berdinski, who works for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, indicated that he has not seen iron bacteria along the Lake Michigan shoreline before, but these bacteria are common in Muskegon County. They are commonly found in areas where groundwater seeps into streams. They are naturally occurring and are not harmful to his knowledge. Learn more from the related article by the Muskegon Chronicle. The material in the photographs below was collected by Darlene DeHudy at the shoreline near Nugent Sand Company and remains to be identified.

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