The government usually doesn't like people to pour chemicals into the Mississippi River. But Tuesday, scientists from the US Geological Survey will use a harmless red dye to find out how water flows through the recreational lock near Pleasant Valley.
Supervisory Hydrologist, Elizabeth Murphy, and about five other USGS researchers will come to the Quad Cities from Urbana and Dekalb to conduct the study.
The scientists will also monitor the red dye as it flows into the Mississippi and becomes more and more diluted. Murphy says they'll have a boat downstream for the team to watch the dye plume.
They will also monitor several more fluorometers placed in the river ahead of time.
The geological survey will share the results with the Corps of Engineers. She says the agencies may decide to test carbon dioxide, or C-O-2, as a fish deterrent.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the red dye for use as a "water tracer." It's been used for decades in hydrologic studies. And in the concentration needed to test the water flow in auxiliary lock 14, it's harmless to people, fish, and plants.
