This is very sad. A mineral owner drowned in the river. But -‐-‐ was it an accident or a murder? Here's a temporary marker near where they pulled him out.
How horrible.
He had just leased his land containing thick, briAle, highly fracable Woodford shale for $2 million.
He also liked noodling for caFish in the river whenever they opened up the floodgates.
Oh no. The river was in flood! If he did not understand how rivers flow -‐ how they deposit sand, and also erode, then he could have been in trouble.
I think he was murdered for his money!
Check it out. He thought it was a point bar, but it was a cutbank. Point bars are good for wading.
Ah yes! A point bar is where sand is deposited. It makes nice river banks and mini-‐beaches.
Three young guys drowned noodling for caFish. The stepped off a cutbank and then the current swept them into some bushes. They were trapped under water.
The deep water is where the caFish like to forage for food.
I think he might have thought he was on the point bar, but the river was in flood, and it changed course. That is what happens.
So a point bar became a cut bank? That is scary.
Yes! and it is very scary... respect fluvial systems, but especially when they are in flood.
Yes! This is a great moment to look at sedimentary systems. Ancient point bars make great traps for oil.
Also, it is why sand deposits are so tricky to map.
Great! Let's review and see what we learn!