Volcanic springs, Hat Creek, CA, USA, aquatic plant Nirvana

[plantbrain]

Why say much?

 

 

 

 

 

There are a few places like this in CA, unlike TX, and FL, SEA and other regions where truly lush aquatic plants exist(Pupu springs in NZ is an exception), this is volcanic based geology for the source, not Krast(limestone).

 

The lush growth, really wide diversity, density of plants, clarity of the water, rich CO2 content, intense fast flow........

 

Really something to behold.

 

The water is about 38F or slightly less, bone chilling. I can handle cold water, this was near shock level since it's flowing really fast. Monkey flower growing permanently submersed, Crow's foot, several species of moss and about 4-5 species of other plants I've got no clue as to what they are.

 

Blew me away, just right by the road.

Faster than heck water, something you'd love to fish for trout in maybe.

 

Similar to the headwaters of Burney Mc Arthur Falls but even nicer and more accessible.

 

Regards,

Tom Barr

[gasolino]

Hi Tom!

thanks for sharing with us that slice of paradise. places like that one are becoming more and more scarce every day, especially in the northern hemisphere.

just a question....how do you explain the high levels of co2? usually fast flowing waters tend to be rich on O2.

 

best regards,

João Sena

[hugo feio]

Hi,

Really nice, Did you get to Catch any plants ?

Can tou specify what species of plants you found there ?

[plantbrain]

Hi Tom!

thanks for sharing with us that slice of paradise. places like that one are becoming more and more scarce every day, especially in the northern hemisphere.

just a question....how do you explain the high levels of co2? usually fast flowing waters tend to be rich on O2.

 

best regards,

João Sena

 

The ground water is richer because there is nowhere for the excess CO2 to degas, like Caves........the CO2 comes in from soil bacteria and the water picks this up as it trickles through the soil.

This has no effect on O2 levels, which are also quite high, about 15ppm or so.

 

But the water is very cold.

 

Regards,

Tom Barr

[JoaoRibeiro]

That is just amazing!

 

At some point you start wondering if it's not one of God's Dutch aquariums

[Pedrovsky]

33ºF = 3ºC!!!! That's what we can call, cold!

 

Like Hugo, i was wondering what kind of species live there, either plants or fish :D

[plantbrain]

33ºF = 3ºC!!!! That's what we can call, cold!

 

Like Hugo, i was wondering what kind of species live there, either plants or fish

 

Crow's foot and Monkey flower mostly, mosses, 3-4 species/liverworts etc, and lots and lots of Trout!!!

this creek is well known for fly fishing.

There's another 3-4 plant species in here I'm not sure what they are.

 

Regards,

Tom Barr

[gervas]

Dear Tom, you do really like to taunt us=P

By the way, what exactly do you mean by SEA? Do you mean Seattle? If it is, it doesnt admire me its that cold=P

You said that these are vulcanic springs? Its awesome! The CO2 must come from the vulcanic part as well as from the bacteria, Vulcanic Springs are mineral rich places, the plants are in hog heaven so to speak=)

 

By The way, and seeing as you live in the coolest country on the world, in terms of temperate climate plant species, aquatic and land, have you had any chance to scout any Beaver dam in terms of water plants? Do you have any idea whether it has more biodiversity than normal? I've always been Curious about it, but never got anyone to ask=P All my american cousins live in NYC(they are the type of New Yorkers that never see the country side, why should they need to right? =P Im sad we dont have european beavers in Portugal... Funny animals=)

 

Either way, me likes=P Too bad these plants are aclimated to cold water, cultivating them in tropical temperatures should be either hard as heck, or impossible all together.

 

Wish we had places like this in Portugal, most our creeks are either too polluted, too deep, or too rocky for vegetal life to prosper like this=S And dont get me started on the clarity of the water... Most our rivers have tinted waters, and the mountain creeks are too cold, at least in my area of residence=S

Editado Setembro 8, 2010 por gervas

[plantbrain]

Dear Tom, you do really like to taunt us=P

By the way, what exactly do you mean by SEA? Do you mean Seattle? If it is, it doesnt admire me its that cold=P

 

I'm sorry, South East Asia

 

You said that these are vulcanic springs? Its awesome! The CO2 must come from the vulcanic part as well as from the bacteria, Vulcanic Springs are mineral rich places, the plants are in hog heaven so to speak=)

The CO2 is still mostly from bacteria that respire and is trapped in the ground water as the water goes from the surface, downwards.

 

 

By The way, and seeing as you live in the coolest country on the world, in terms of temperate climate plant species, aquatic and land, have you had any chance to scout any Beaver dam in terms of water plants? Do you have any idea whether it has more biodiversity than normal? I've always been Curious about it, but never got anyone to ask=P All my american cousins live in NYC(they are the type of New Yorkers that never see the country side, why should they need to right? =P Im sad we dont have european beavers in Portugal... Funny animals=)

 

Either way, me likes=P Too bad these plants are aclimated to cold water, cultivating them in tropical temperatures should be either hard as heck, or impossible all together.

 

Wish we had places like this in Portugal, most our creeks are either too polluted, too deep, or too rocky for vegetal life to prosper like this=S And dont get me started on the clarity of the water... Most our rivers have tinted waters, and the mountain creeks are too cold, at least in my area of residence=S

 

We see a few beaver damns, far more in Canada, but they are semi common. they really hunted them for a long time, but have recovered. Giant water rats.

Some plants, but they uproot and cause other problems for many aquatic plants.

 

The crow's foot will grow in warmer water, the Moneky flow does not do very well.

Moss the same things.

 

For such springs to exists, you must have stable sources of water that have not been diverted or altered. Pierre Spring water from France is carbonated naturally also, so there are sources, but they have been used for other human purposes.

Weeds can still grow in most of the water in Portugal also, Hyacinth and Egeria, Myriophyllum, Crispy pondweeds, Hydrilla certainly...............careful what you ask for!!!

 

Bad weeds are no good.

 

Still, for all the land and natural resources we have, human encrochment has really really harmed Califonria. We have lost 96% of our wetlands. 94% of the old growth forest, most of the plant communities are invaded by weeds.

Water has been really altered on a scale never before seen anywhere in California.

 

About 30 Billion dollars a year in Agriculture production in this state alone drives politics and business.

The Environment has little chance. It is only where they cannot get at the water or it is too far away or a state park, National park etc..........that these places are safe, isolation helps.

Nothing can be grown in Hat Creek....it's nothing by hundreds of meters thick of volcanic rock and pumic. The creek eventually flows into the Sacramento River a hundred or so miles away, so it gets used. Logging is common in the area also.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

Tom Barr

[gervas]

yeah but the species you said are considered pests here, invasive weeds.... The only aquatic plant we had that we can use in the aquaria, was Hottonia palustris, but its mostly wiped out due to polution and human encroaching....

[plantbrain]

yeah but the species you said are considered pests here, invasive weeds.... The only aquatic plant we had that we can use in the aquaria, was Hottonia palustris, but its mostly wiped out due to polution and human encroaching....

 

Just give us some more time, we will mess this place up good eventually, China is beating up pretty good though.

 

Destroying their own........most of Africa is also, Brazil.......most places........

 

Regards,

Tom Barr