Mystery holes.

On Dec 24, 6:27*pm, Monk wrote:
I stumbled across this earlier today. *Below is the quote and link to
picture.

Although I've seen several areas with similar holes, this particular
set is right next to Bastrop Bayou, near the bridge where CR 227
crosses over it. Approximate lat/long is N29.094 W95.290.

Usually the holes are near a body of water: a river, stream, bayou,
canal, etc. And they are always water filled.

Any ideas?

http://www.texas-flyer.com/LightFlyer/holes.jpg

These look remarkably like what one sees when when is culturing
bacteria on a petri dish, except on a different scale. It would appear
the only difference is vegetation is not growing in the 'hole' -- it
seems to be defined by an absence of leaves, rather than something
going on under the surface. I'd suspect some kind of leaf eating
insect, or an underwater plant that deprives the floating ones of
roots.

If you look at growth in the deserts, you see pretty much the opposite
of this -- cactii grow spaced because their roots spread out and
prohibit other plants from growing nearby by depriving them of water.

SInkholes would seem unlikely to affect growth on the surface.

In article
,
a wrote:

On Dec 24, 6:27*pm, Monk wrote:
I stumbled across this earlier today. *Below is the quote and link to
picture.

Although I've seen several areas with similar holes, this particular
set is right next to Bastrop Bayou, near the bridge where CR 227
crosses over it. Approximate lat/long is N29.094 W95.290.

Usually the holes are near a body of water: a river, stream, bayou,
canal, etc. And they are always water filled.

Any ideas?

http://www.texas-flyer.com/LightFlyer/holes.jpg

These look remarkably like what one sees when when is culturing
bacteria on a petri dish, except on a different scale. It would appear
the only difference is vegetation is not growing in the 'hole' -- it
seems to be defined by an absence of leaves, rather than something
going on under the surface. I'd suspect some kind of leaf eating
insect, or an underwater plant that deprives the floating ones of
roots.

If you look at growth in the deserts, you see pretty much the opposite
of this -- cactii grow spaced because their roots spread out and
prohibit other plants from growing nearby by depriving them of water.

More than that, some cactus and other desert plants secrete chemicals
that actively suppress seed germination of potential competitors.

SInkholes would seem unlikely to affect growth on the surface.

On Dec 25, 12:40*pm, Steve Hix
wrote:
In article
,



*a wrote:
On Dec 24, 6:27*pm, Monk wrote:
I stumbled across this earlier today. *Below is the quote and link to
picture.

Although I've seen several areas with similar holes, this particular
set is right next to Bastrop Bayou, near the bridge where CR 227
crosses over it. Approximate lat/long is N29.094 W95.290.

Usually the holes are near a body of water: a river, stream, bayou,
canal, etc. And they are always water filled.

Any ideas?

http://www.texas-flyer.com/LightFlyer/holes.jpg

These look remarkably like what one sees when when is culturing
bacteria on a petri dish, except on a different scale. It would appear
the only difference is vegetation is not growing *in the 'hole' -- it
seems to be *defined by an absence of leaves, rather than something
going on under the surface. *I'd suspect some kind of leaf eating
insect, or an underwater plant that deprives the floating ones of
roots.

If you look at growth in the deserts, you see pretty much the opposite
of this -- cactii grow spaced because their roots spread out and
prohibit other plants from growing nearby by depriving them of water.

More than that, some cactus and other desert plants secrete chemicals
that actively suppress seed germination of potential competitors.

SInkholes would seem unlikely to affect growth on the surface.

Very interesting theories.

Monk

I suspect the holes are abandoned oil wells from long ago. Nothing left
but the damage from bringing up the "substrate" to the surface.
Limestone, oil soaked earth etc that no plant can grow in or at least is
favorable to the local vegetation.

That whole area around Galveston is riddled with those holes. I
understand years ago that area had hundreds of oil wells in a few block
area.

Thats my guess!

Terry

"Monk" wrote in message
...


I stumbled across this earlier today. Below is the quote and link to
picture.

Although I've seen several areas with similar holes, this particular
set is right next to Bastrop Bayou, near the bridge where CR 227
crosses over it. Approximate lat/long is N29.094 W95.290.

Usually the holes are near a body of water: a river, stream, bayou,
canal, etc. And they are always water filled.

Any ideas?

http://www.texas-flyer.com/LightFlyer/holes.jpg

Terry wrote:
I suspect the holes are abandoned oil wells from long ago. Nothing left
but the damage from bringing up the "substrate" to the surface.
Limestone, oil soaked earth etc that no plant can grow in or at least is
favorable to the local vegetation.

That whole area around Galveston is riddled with those holes. I
understand years ago that area had hundreds of oil wells in a few block
area.

Thats my guess!

Terry




I disagree. I suspect that the "pilot" at the controls of the UFO that
did this was a student and was practicing "touch and go's". :-)

I think you might have something there Frank!
I know 28 years ago as a student pilot, I might have "dented" the
runway a few times with my landings!

Happy New Year .... Terry N6401F

"Frank Olson" wrote in
message ...
Terry wrote:
I suspect the holes are abandoned oil wells from long ago. Nothing
left but the damage from bringing up the "substrate" to the surface.
Limestone, oil soaked earth etc that no plant can grow in or at least
is favorable to the local vegetation.

That whole area around Galveston is riddled with those holes. I
understand years ago that area had hundreds of oil wells in a few
block area.

Thats my guess!

Terry




I disagree. I suspect that the "pilot" at the controls of the UFO
that did this was a student and was practicing "touch and go's". :-)

Terry wrote:
I think you might have something there Frank!
I know 28 years ago as a student pilot, I might have "dented" the
runway a few times with my landings!

I was always told it's "good form" to fill in your divots afterwards... :-)


Happy New Year .... Terry N6401F


Same to you and yours!