Can someone explain why water that is normally of decent clarity, heavily stained and muddy this time of year? Current water temperatures are around 39-42 degrees F.

I think the obvious answer is post rain runoff...But what about right now, when there really hasn't been heavy rains locally and the December flood waters have receded?

I would think that heavy winds are largely responsible.

Perhaps the upper layer of cold muddy water left from the flooding does not mix well with deeper warmer clearer water?

I'm seeing a few bodies of water that are like chocolate milk in some areas and normal in other areas. Just curious on the biology of this phenomenon.