Page 207 - 1915, Springs of CA.

CARBONATED SPRINGS. 191

nesia. Their overflow channels are iron stained. One of the springs
issues at the base of a serpentine bank on the eastern side of
the creek channel and has been piped to the creek edge. Its water
has been bottled for sale since about 1901. The other spring issues
from crevices in serpentine at the eastern edge of the creek. The
water seems to be similar in chemical character to that of the first, but
in 1910 the spring was unimproved.
Although no analyses of these springs are available, the close rela-
tion of magnesia content to serpentine from which the water issues
is thought to be well shown at these springs, as at other magnesia
springs that have been described.
The canyon of this branch of Putah Creek seems to mark the
western boundary of the serpentine near Spiers Springs, for though
it covers an extensive area on the eastern side of the canyon, the banks
on the opposite side are of sedimentary rocks.
Spiers Springs are noticeably thermal, temperatures of 74° and 78°
having been recorded, so they are shown on Plate III (in pocket) as
thermal-carbonated springs, but they seem to be more properly con-
sidered as carbonated springs. There is said to be another magnesia
spring, though of only slight flow, known as Sweetwater Spring, 2 or 3
miles southeast of Spiers Springs, but it has been unused and was not
found.
SODA BAT SPRINGS (LAKE 36).
Soda Bay Springs are situated at the western side of Clear Lake,
near the north base of Mount Konocti, a lava peak that rises high
above the lake. A boating and fishing resort has been established
here for nearly 40 years, and in 1910 a hotel and cottages provided
accommodations for about 150 people.
Numerous warm, bubbling springs rise along the border of the lake
for a distance of half a mile on the east side of the bay, but five princi-
pal springs and groups, may be recognized. Two of the springs are
respectively about 200 and 235 yards east of the boat pier. They
form carbonated drinking pools having temperatures of 90° and 82°.
In January, 1910, they were at the lake edge, but as the lake surface
fluctuates several feet during the year, the springs are sometimes
submerged. All of the vents are said to be more active when the
lake is high. From the two springs already mentioned, a line of
bubbles extended northward about 300 yards, parallel with the
lake edge but several yards out from shore, to a float that was used
by bathers. A group of small vents here made the water warm and
pleasant for bathing. At a low point 250 yards farther northwest,
small flows of carbonated water 85° to 90° in temperature issued from
iron-stained cemented gravel, both on the shore, and for several yards
into the lake. The largest and most important spring, however, rises
in the lake 200 yards or more northwest of the springs last described
and near the northern end of a small island. This spring is known as.