IBRRC: Oil spill response on a smaller scale

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On a smaller scale

When the oil spills – big or small – IBRRC gets the call:

Huntington Beach Channel spill
January 25, 2010

An IBRRC response crew joined other OWCN members and helped rescue 6 oiled birds in Huntington Beach, CA after a 672 gallon crude oil spill was discovered in a local flood control channel that leads to the Pacific Ocean.

The impacted birds were transported to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center in San Pedro. IBRRC manages this 10,000 square foot facility that is designed to house up to 1,000 birds during an oil spill. It also houses the Southern California chapter of IBRRC's local education program and our ongoing aquatic bird rehabilitation program.

To report any animals with oil on them, call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network Center at (877) UCD-OWCN.

Media report:

LA Times: 672-gallon oil spill fouls Huntington Beach channel

Oil Spill In Pyramid Lake
March 23, 2005

A pipeline ruptured along a Southern California lake spilling as much as 126,000 gallons of crude oil. The pipeline break was on a hillside east of Pyramid Lake, a reservoir that supplies water to the State Water Project. The pipeline, which was built in 1959, carries about 2.5 million gallons of crude a day from the San Joaquin Valley to oil refineries in Los Angeles. IBRRC personnel were called to the site in conjunction with the Oil Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) responded and a few dead birds were located.

More information:

NBC4.TV: Crews need days to cleanup spill

Oakland Estuary fuel spill
February 4, 2005

A jet fuel spill harmed numerous birds in the Oakland Estuary after a pipeline leak spilled 500 gallons. The spill occurred near the Port of Oakland, CA and 14 live birds were captured. Five birds are receiving care at IBRRC's Cordelia facility. Birds affected were mainly American Coots.

More information:

CBS 5: Slow Progress in Estuary Oil Spill

Seattle Times map of the area

Dalco Passage Spill
October 14, 2004

In the early morning hours over 1,000 gallons of bunker oil was spilled in South Puget Sound, in Washington, specifically in the Dalco Passage area, oiling over 21 miles of coastline. Coast Guard fly-over reports noted the heaviest deposits of oil on South Vashon and Maury Islands.

IBRRC's oil spill response team was mobilized and headed to Tacoma to do search and collection of any oiled wildlife. Fortunately, they only found one bird, an oiled Western grebe that was captured and cared for. The cause of the spill still seems to be a mystery.

More information:

Seeking the oil spill clues: New York Times article

Joint command press release on the spill: 10/29/04