[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by madrasahs

Well, they're foam (suds), white, yellow, or beige in color, and I think maybe the swim-thingys are called noodles, not spaghetti. I've got photos, but they're not digitized yet.

"Foam" can be pillow-sized -- even mattress-sized -- and appear in September (when the lake is drawn down and more sand is exposed) after a North wind against (mostly) north-facing shorelines. Although they can migrate anywhere. I've got a call into DES, and will advise -- if they know.

Thought this might be of interest, or at least something to talk to the DES about when you call them.

http://www.cayugalake.org/newsletter/winter/2003/lake_foam.html

Foam is generally caused by agents called surfactants, which reduce the surface tension of water. When air is mixed with the water surface by wave or wind action, bubbles form. Laundry and other detergents have long been known to be a source of surfactants in lakes and streams. However, evidence is pointing in this case to an entirely natural source of these compounds. When organisms, such as algae, plants, fish and/or zebra mussels die and decompose they release fatty acids, which act as surfactants. Storms and agitation from boats cause these natural surfactants to mix with surface waters, resulting in streaks of sudsy white foam, which can collect in large quantities on windward shores, coves, or in eddies.

Found two other wed sites that basically said the same.

.....covered by the white foam of natural saponins produced by the decomposition of lake algae.....



.....thick piles of white foam, a natural reaction when the lake's carbonate-rich water is agitated.....

Originally Posted by madrasahs

My working theory is that the north-facing shorelines, having taken Big Boat wake "hits" all summer, have exposed large new soil surfaces to bacteria in the "new" shallows. North-facing shorelines don't get the really bad north winter blasts because the lake is iced over then. Not many north-facing Winnipesaukee non-island shorelines have sufficient fetch, either.

Some things can be created naturally but it appears that most if not everything you post has to do with BIG boats, FAST boats, BIG boat wakes. Curious, is this something to do with "boat-us envy?"