Strange Foam On North Canadian River Has Residents Worried

Jamie Oberg, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There is a mystery in Northeast Oklahoma City. Something strange is floating on the North Canadian River.

A viewer sent News 9 pictures over the weekend showing some sort of "junk" on the surface of the water.

You could really see the foam floating down the river on Sunday. But on Monday, you can see the remnants of what's left behind on the banks here.

Cameron Perry has been catfishing the past couple days.

"I've been seeing it along the river, on the banks in the brush," Perry said.

Perry has caught a glimpse of these large chunks of what appears to be foam floating down Oklahoma waterways. He said he has no clue what they are.

"I think about it because I fish out here, if it's something harmful I'd like to know," Perry said.

We asked the Department of Environmental Quality to check it out.

"It not uncommon to see soap-like foam or bubbles in waters, such as rivers after we've had such a dry period followed by rain," said Skylar Mcelhaney with the Department of Environmental Quality.

The department said we are seeing so much of the foam because it's been so unbelievably dry.

So what is it?

"Naturally occurring dissolved compounds, and sediment and plants that have died off," Mcelhaney said.

The Department said it's safe. So Perry will continue fishing.

But the department wants to hear from anyone who sees anything floating in the waterways, that just doesn't look right.

"You want to be careful anytime you come in contact with the state's natural bodies of water, simply because you don't know what's in it," Mcelhaney said.

We know what's in this now. Sediment, natural compounds and dead plants. The department said expect more if we get any more rain.