Just returned from a 10 day trip between Little Indian Sioux to Moose Lake. Several times the water we filtered had black specs that were clearly living creatures moving around. Wondering what these are.

Also, huge clouds of pollen were blowing the first week, and most lakes had pollen floating in the water. The filtered water was fine to drink, but had a noticeable yellow tinge. I assumed this was dissolved pollen. Thoughts?

Will post trip report soon. Planned 16 days to Lake One, but was cut short because Spice Lake fire closed access to the rest of our route.

The yellow water is from the tannins in the trees, no big deal. The living creatures might be water fleas, hydra, mites, or arthropods. They may even be insect larvae. The creatures may be Giardia parasites. Only under a microscope you can tell for sure. Pollen is everywhere up there sometimes covering the surface on a calm day. A good water filter is key for removing pollen, creatures from your water. Only a purifier with a carbon filter will help with the yellow tannin. I chose to just get the pollen and creatures out with a filter that hangs on a branch. But with all the things in the water your filter will slow and clog. Be ready to back flush your filter.

Kendis: "Just returned from a 10 day trip between Little Indian Sioux to Moose Lake. Several times the water we filtered had black specs that were clearly living creatures moving around.

Will post trip report soon. Planned 16 days to Lake One, but was cut short because Spice Lake fire closed access to the rest of our route."

The little black specs are the bugs you can see. Imagine the bugs you can't see lol.

Most of the pollen is white pine pollen right now. Harmless. The pollen is captured by your filter but as mentioned, if it's a tea stain you see in the water, it's natural tannins. I would call it tea colored more than yellow if we are talking the same thing.