Algal Clouds

 Voila!

It's metaphyton (filamentous algae) that got draped over a stick, and was then left high and dry when the lake level was lowered for dam repairs.

Clouds of metaphyton usually float around in lakes but this year's extremely hot summer has resulted in an increase in algal clouds. It feels a lot like cotton candy.

The yellow-brown mass through the middle of the photo below shows a cloud drifting in the water.

Metaphyton clouds look pretty unappealing but are not likely to harbor cyanobacteria as planktonic algae do.

Metaphyton algal clouds usually dissipate and collapse as conditions for their bloom can no longer sustain them. They proliferate in shallow parts of the littoral zone where the presence of many plants gives them a "platform" to aggregate together. They dissipate in open, flowing water as they cannot sustain their cohesion.