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Thread: Outlet flow, water quality question

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    Default Outlet flow, water quality question


    Craig was at Pomona outlet yesterday, release rate of 1500 cfs. The smell of waste water sewage was so overwhelming coming right of the tube overspray! I've been to many outlets when dumping and never smelled anything close to what we experienced that day. Any ideas or referrals, I am very curious! Thanx, DK

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    Quote Originally Posted by dkv View Post
    Craig was at Pomona outlet yesterday, release rate of 1500 cfs. The smell of waste water sewage was so overwhelming coming right of the tube overspray! I've been to many outlets when dumping and never smelled anything close to what we experienced that day. Any ideas or referrals, I am very curious! Thanx, DK
    Perhaps a thermocline has set up and the water coming out of the lake is un oxygenated water from below the thermocline. I've never experienced it myself but have heard of this phenomena before. I've heard the smell referred to as similar to rotten eggs stench. No oxygen in water below thermocline has likely been used up by bacteria consuming the waste and dead decaying organic material in the deeper no oxygen water.
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    Also how did the actual lake itself look? Thinking of stopping by this week to fish it.
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    Quote Originally Posted by steveinsene View Post
    Perhaps a thermocline has set up and the water coming out of the lake is un oxygenated water from below the thermocline. I've never experienced it myself but have heard of this phenomena before. I've heard the smell referred to as similar to rotten eggs stench. No oxygen in water below thermocline has likely been used up by bacteria consuming the waste and dead decaying organic material in the deeper no oxygen water.
    Forgot to add to this post that the awful smell is likely the byproduct of the bacteria going to work on dead matter in deeper water.
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    The lake was light stain, water visibility about 12-15 in. That was on Tuesday and we caught 3 keepers and a short. Much rain since!
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    Quote Originally Posted by dkv View Post
    Craig was at Pomona outlet yesterday, release rate of 1500 cfs. The smell of waste water sewage was so overwhelming coming right of the tube overspray! I've been to many outlets when dumping and never smelled anything close to what we experienced that day. Any ideas or referrals, I am very curious! Thanx, DK
    dkv,

    Sorry for the slow reply.

    Like others mentioned, the smell was likely caused by all the decaying plant material that the flood waters covered and killed. The outlet provided a place for the deeper water discharged from the lake to get "stirred up" making the odor more noticeable.

    Probably somewhat conditions specific also as I didn't experience what you describe at El Dorado during our flooding. I'm not overly familiar with Pomona's limnological details, but if stratification had occurred and water was being released from the hypolimnion then that could cause the more intense sewage/hydrogen sulfide smell.

    The COE may have a better answer if you would want to ask them. Their contact info is Phone: 785-453-2201 Email: [email protected]
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