Skip to main content

BACTERIA:  A naturally occurring phenomenon

bacterial sheen on water
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

BACTERIA:  A naturally occurring phenomenon

EGLE often receives complaints claiming that “someone dumped paint or a rust-colored substance” or that there is an unnatural colored oil-like sheen in moist areas or in a water body. Some oil-like films, coatings, and slimes, although they may look bad, are natural phenomena. These phenomena are caused by single- celled organisms called bacteria.

 

bacteria creating an oil-like sheen on surface of water
Bacteria film in a wetland area with the appearance of an oil spill

View/download a pdf of this brochure.

For more information, including tips to help reduce the amount of nutrients that can enter a lake from your home activities, contact any EGLE district office or call the State of Michigan’s Environmental Assistance Center at EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov or 800-662-9278.

If you find pollution and believe it is human-induced, please report it to the State of Michigan’s Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) hotline at (800) 292-4706.