[pct-l] Barrel Spring (mi 101) still contaminated

Fri Apr 9 09:37:54 CDT 2010

Asabat,

I certainly appreciate the work you do to maintain the water report, but I don't understand how oak leaves may be considered worse than dead rodents, especially when the source is likely to fill with rodents unless someone gets in there to fish them out.  Granted, the oak leaves may have caused hikers to contaminate the source, but the source is now contaminated year round.  I'm even more confused when the report currently warns about contaminating the source by washing themselves in it when there are already dead rodents in it.  I'd hate to think that we're arguing about this, but rather that we're sharing information.  Anyone else can decide what to do on their own, as they should.  Laurence the Spring Guy gave us a thorough update to the water report.  He was also so concerned about the Barrel Spring water resource that he frequently offered to drive back there to pull out one of the dead rodents and take a picture with it.  We have those pictures if there's any doubt about this. Laurence said there are many more rodents in there now.  I've visited with Laurence several times over the past few days and my gut tells me that I should side with him on this particular issue. Regardless of the reports concerning any water source, I chemically treat and filter all water that doesn't come out of a tap, and I'll sometimes I'll purify that water too....because sometimes things change quickly, like when the earthquake muddied up all the tap water at Warner Springs Resort.  Again, I appreciate the work you've been doing and are planning on doing.  Every hiker I've seen on the trail this year is carrying your water report.  Even those that didn't have one initially wanted and received one.  It's a great resource.  We just have a little disagreement on one matter.  Anyway, I previously told you I'd send you some updates.  Trail life got ahead of me.  I'm now back at home to recuperate a swollen ankle, so I have time to write up the update while waiting to get back out on the trail.

Btw, some of the writing may be replaced by signs in the near future.  A work in progress.  Also, Laurence has placed a hose on Tule Spring to make it easier to wash up there.  Nice clear water there, although Freebird had to run the water for a little while to get rid of rust that accumulated in the pipes over the winter.  The Guzzler has clear water despite the appearance of the surface.  That water resource collects rainfall that falls directly on that concrete slab, and of course collects nasty looking pollen too.  Laurence found that the water in the middle layer of water was clear, so he installed a hand pump to allow us to easily collect water from that clean layer.  I've been drinking water from both sources.  There are many more updates, but those are two things I was really thankful for....at least concerning water...Laurence has done many more things for us that I'll try to write about in my journal.

Sir Mix-a-lot

From: asabat at 4jeffrey.net
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2010 06:31:05 -0700
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Barrel Spring (mi 101) still contaminated
To: atetuna at hotmail.com
CC: pct-l at backcountry.net

News alert: there are dead things in most natural water sources. This one may or may not be worse, but dead critters are everywhere, and if they aren't dead, they certainly still pooped in the water. 

At Round Valley on San Jacinto (not on the PCT) there is a backcountry ranger station with a faucet nearby. That faucet is signed saying filter the water. Few do so, including at least some who work up there. But, the spring source has been found to have critters in it consistently.

Last year I reported when dead things were found in water holes. The list got long. I fear such reporting leads many to believe that if dead things are reported, then that source has no dead things and therefore is safe to drink untreated. Not true. 

The work done at Barrel Spring, even if it traps critters, IS an improvement. Before the work was done, the pipes would constantly clog, causing the pipe to stop flowing. The clog was typically oak leaves, which are high in tannin. When that happened, hikers would either go without, filter (or not) from the trough (which unfortunately a few think is a bathtub), or go up to the source spring, resulting in more contamination and siltation there. 

The intro page to the water report does mention that dead critters are found in many water sources. The sign at Barrel Springs does say to treat the water.

On a related note, taping a paper sign to a tank or official sign about dead critters may be ok, but writing directly on an official sign, tank, etc., is not. That dead critter may be removed, but the ink marker will remain beyond that.

AsABat

On Sun, Apr 4, 2010 at 12:08 AM, Eugene <atetuna at hotmail.com> wrote:

I think the water report will reflect this soon, but I wanted to let people know that Barrel Spring is still contaminated.  The whole thing is contaminated from the source to the pipe at the bottom.  There are 5 dead rodents floating in the source that are trapped due to the design of the "improvement" installed just before kickoff last year.  According to the greatest water resource in this area, Barrel Spring will remain contaminated until the previous improvement is fixed.

As to those that installed the improvement, gratitude was expressed by the person I talked to, but unfortunately the help that was offered didn't work out as expected.  I feel the same way.

Anyway, if you want to drink it, treat the water very well.

Sir Mix-a-lot

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