'Blood lake' a product of drought
Red bacteria thrive in the oxygen-poor water of a drought-shrunken Texas lake, naturalists say.
August 5th, 2011
12:50 PM ET

'Blood lake' a product of drought

A Texas reservoir has turned a deep red, prompting a pastor to speculate it's a sign of the coming Apocalypse.

But the Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife says it's just an indication of how bad the current drought is. About 99% of Texas is under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife says water levels in the reservoir receded, which, mixed with the warm weather, helped lower oxygen levels. The low oxygen levels prompted a fish kill and spurred the growth of  bacteria called Chromatiaceae, which thrive in such conditions. Chromatiaceae are purplish in color, prompting the "blood" red descriptions.

Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife says the reservoir will be restocked with fish as soon as the drought ends and water levels return to normal.

The Texas drought has emptied several other lakes, including one in East Texas. The receding water revealed a part of the space shuttle Columbia, which broke up over Texas in 2003, at the bottom of the lake.

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Filed under: Heat • Texas • Weather
soundoff (48 Responses)
  1. paradigm shift

    we should be concerned about having oxygen by cutting down trees and replacing oxygen with methane and CO2 and for first time in history rain forest in S America was a net releaser of carbon, and didn't act as normal carbon sink. this is first time in human history, not when dinosaurs roamed BEFORE man..not sure how that is relevant..it is like saying at least we aren't yet mars; based on above photo and compare to red planet, maybe not too much longer.

    man is fu*(ing up our own house faster and faster like burning our own room while sitting in it.

    August 6, 2011 at 4:14 am | Report abuse |
    • kathleen

      Yup , of course humans are also a natural part of the planet so maybe humans causing an environment implosion is also the natural course of things so the next species can arise and evolve ?

      August 6, 2011 at 8:43 am | Report abuse |
  2. kathleen

    Drought = fish kill = a form of apocalypse ,
    However it is a natural one and not the result of an angry deity .
    ( Did the pastor Say it was caused by his deity ? )

    August 6, 2011 at 8:41 am | Report abuse |
  3. Pastor Paul Begley of Indiana

    John, I am sorry, I missed your deadline, and I called you twice and left you an email, so Yes I would love to speak to you and anyone else there at CNN News! I think you need to hear a little more, because these signs are not something to mock at, but something to consider the fact that Jesus is coming soon!!

    August 6, 2011 at 1:07 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Miz banasy

    I am in total agreement with you, Mad Hatter.

    August 6, 2011 at 5:28 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Sammy

    I think is time for all Americans and Non-Americans to cry out unto God to save this nation from this tragedy. Have we all forgotten what happened in Egypt when their river turned to blood. Similar event has happened in Texas and we need not to attribute the cause to any bacteria. I think is about time we change our ways and turn to God for pardon, healing and restoration.

    August 6, 2011 at 10:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Steven

      I agree with you Sammy. Praise God!

      August 12, 2011 at 10:33 pm | Report abuse |
  6. ajd041

    All of those who say the red lake is the sign of the apocalypse are correct to a certain degree it was the apocalypse for the fish turtles etc. Living in the lake

    August 7, 2011 at 1:15 am | Report abuse |
  7. Cesar

    Warning: I know karate. Ha ya!

    August 7, 2011 at 3:07 pm | Report abuse |
    • Wilfried

      Larry / OK, I threw all the names in a hat and had my wife draw one out. The winner is .. AaronChan !Congrats Aaron! I'll send you a DM to get your info.

      April 22, 2012 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Karen Black

    There is no such thing as the "Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife." Texas DOES have a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, however. Just another case of CNN missing the most obvious of things. CREDIBILITY?????

    August 24, 2011 at 3:52 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Roxanne

    Im wondering if you have ever read the Bible and if you have.. You would know that this is a sign that Jesus is near and you should also read up on what the Bible says about Mockers and Schofers.. If your serious about doing stories on the coming apocolypse, you should do your research first before you start rambling on like a babling idiot..

    April 26, 2012 at 10:36 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Mike

    It's funny how almost ALL Kinds of lakes all over the world turn red. Dont you think? Think about the angel who opened the seals and earthquakes came, fire (forest), blood red waters.... etc.. read the bible. It's happening people. Trust me

    November 23, 2013 at 8:30 pm | Report abuse |
  11. R. Eaton

    Red Algae Bloom.

    January 5, 2014 at 11:25 pm | Report abuse |
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