Oil Spill in Detroit River

[lead bouncer]

Just heard on AM radio there is a "major" clean up underway in the Detroit river.
Seems a though a "thick oily substance" originating from the Rouge and is crapping up the water way moving down to Erie.
Any body seen it?
-LB >:(

[kbkrause]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/det/news/stories/news-139118220020410-110416.html

[goosewa]

Krause,

You beat me to it.

-Goosewa

[goosewa]

For what it is worth, just heard the following on Channel 7 NEWS.

1. The US Coast Guard knew about the spill yesterday. (April 9, 2002).
2. The spill originated from a Storm Drain on the Rouge River.

That is just great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Goosewa

[Steely-Head]

Oh No.....that isnt good....

[Spinner]

That doesn't sound good at all. Does anyone know just how much oil we are talking about here? :( :( :( :(

[perchjerker]

Dont click on that detnew link!! Its a porn site!!

Goosewa, please remove it. I know it was a honest mistake!

[goosewa]

Sorry Guys,

I already sent a request in to remove it. Yes, it was an honest mistake. Just think of the hits that site gets though. Now people wonder how it is so easy for kids to get a hold of the stuff.

-Goosewa

[Shoeman]

All recreational boats are mandated to stay away from the infected area. This is bad news for the walleye and their fishermen.

[stelmon]

The site worked fine for me. That is a bummer. Hope they catch the jerk is spoilled into the water.

[TheFlyfisher]

Channel 4 at 5:00 P.M said there were 2 oil spills. One at River Rouge and one in the river. They also stated that it might of been done deliberately and the coast guard is searching for the people. Only reporting what I heard. Either way it is bad news. They also stated that it will take 48 hours to clean it up and it was used oil and about 500 gallons. Did you see all thoes guys fishing boats? The bottoms and sides were all covered with black oil. Wander what that would do sucking that up in your water pump?
Mike

[1sh0t]

YAH MY DAD WENT OUT AND THERE WAS NO OIL THEN ON THE WAY IN HE WENT RIGHT TROUGH IT AND ITS COVORED BY OIL



:mad:
DAN

[Alex]

I imagine with the currents some of this has already made it's way into Erie. Even with their efforts to contain it.

[knockoff64]

In fact, because the water intakes are a few inches below the water line, it's unlikely very much oil was sucked into anyones cooling system.

If I'm wrong, the real problem is wherever they go it will leave an oil slick until all that oil is flushed out!

Regardless, WHAT A MESS! And a real tragedy for our natural resources, I hope they catch those responsible and stick it to them good!:mad:

[ET]

We were on the river today. Some areas were worse than others. There was a lot below the stacks this morning. Most of the boats fishing that area were covered in it. When we ran up the river, there were several slicks near Mud Island. We left around 4:00 pm and there were slicks at Erie Metro launch. I had to take my boat and trailer to the car wash in order to get it off

[hot-tot]

whatever was spawning or getting ready to right now is toast especially in that 2 to 8 ft bye the stacks area did anybody catch any fish during that i wonder

[knockoff64]

I don't believe this will effect the spawn much, because oil floats.

The real damage is to birds, and plant life along the shore line. The damage to the fish population will probably be less obvious.

The oil will stick to Zooplankton and other microscopic animals and plants, which will be consumed by Walleye frye and other small fish, which will in turn pass it up the food chain.

Worst case scenario for the walleye population, a weak year class of fish from the Detroit River stock.

I'm not trying to down play this as "no big deal". It is a big deal, but I'm not sure it will have the dire consequences hot-tot described.

[walleyeman830]

I was only in the river for about 2 hours and what a mess. Got home around 5pm finished cleaning at about 10:00pm. I really feel bad for the environmental damage and for the people that have to clean this mess up. I also got a phone number from channel 2 if you were out in the river today call and report to this number in case of damage down the road.....1-800-280-7118 I haven't called it yet so I don't know what to expect.

Here's my mess.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/1sh0t/P4100019.jpg

[Ibfishin61]

This is a bad situation guys, I was in it. went out at 600am wednesday morning from elizabeth park, no oil until 8am by then it was too late. My boat was covered as well as many others. The oil wasnt easy to get off my glass boat and left a nice stain line that i have to rub out. anyone that was there should clean and flush engines & lower units repeatedly. I have a phone # for anyone that wants to claim damage to their boats from this disaster. someone has to pay for this. This is not only is this bad for the wildlife but look at all the property that is covered in oil. I know once im done cleanin my boat i will tally up hours and materials that it took to restore it to the condition it was in prior to the spill. The # is 1-800-280-7118

[FischInMich]

Downriver members, please try to keep information posted on the progress of this clean-up. I intend to head to the area either Saturday or Sunday depending on which is the better looking weather day, and would surely appreciate any and all updated info.

Most of you would know better than the media geniuses.

[Big Frank 25]

If the Coast Guard knew about the spill on Tues. how did it get this far? Seems the response was a little......:(

[goosewa]

Guys,

Look at: http://www.clickondetroit.com/det/news/stories/news-139118220020410-110416.html

They are now estimating the total dumped up to 1000-5000 gallons. A friend and I took a quick drive down to the Rotary Park Ramp yesterday evening and the smell of oil made us sick. The launch was covered in a layer of oil. With a bunch more floating on the surface.

They are asking Recreational Boaters and Fisherman to stay clear of the area until the clean up is complete. Which makes complete sense.

I have lived downriver since my birth I have never seen anything quite like this.

-Goosewa

[Cangl]

Water and oil do not mix? Add current and wave action and it does just that. The majority of it does float fortunatly but the river bottom providing more resistance then the waters surface is being coated also. Egg sufocation is going to happen and the shoreline in Eerie is seeing it now as it moves south. With the dissassembly of the larger Ford smelter going on near the Rouge theres alot of truck traffic near the river in that area and a trucker, his boss and some company has taken an economical shortcut. Pay to pollute? They have to be caught first? Obviously no fines are stiff enough to cover the damages to private property, or the future of our enviroment.
Watch for tank type trucks, flat beds with drums or containers near any water way, wetland or feilds and use your legal options observe and call the police and DNR and inform. This stuff is headed into your childrens childrens bodies and lives through irragation and evaporation.

[walleyeman830]

I stopped by Lake Erie Metropark this morning for a little look see, there is some oil aroung the launch site and down the shoreline. Goosewa, says they asking rec. boaters to stay clear of the area, but the 165 empty trailers in the parking lot didn't here about it. It's surely not worth the clean up on your rig to get a couple of fish and maybe hamper the clean-up effort..

just my .02:confused:

[goosewa]

Walleyeman830,

You can bet it will be those 165 people that will complain about how lousy of a job the EPA, USCG and Marine Pollution Control did to contain and clean up the mess.

They should have shut the whole river down to navigation and let all involved get the clean up done right. Instead, there was boats scooting up and down the channel pushing all of that oil to the shore. I realize that shore line pollution is unavoidable but why compound the problem with wave and wake action from boats.

It was very calm on the river yesterday wait until that wind changes to the South/Southwest like the weather man is predicting. That chop will make the clean up much more complicated.

I wanted to go out so bad yesterday but, the only oil I like with my Walleye is Olive Oil.

-Goosewa

[jimbos43]

I read somewhere yesteday of guys overheating their motors. Their sucking in the gunk, and clogging the water intakes.

Obviously.

[walleyeman830]

I here ya Goosewa, I went out yesterday no knowing anything about it. I also wanted to go out today in the worst way, took a vac. day after seeing the weather report. Oh well, I guess I'll finish cleaning the boat and then the truck. Some how oil got on it, in it, and around it.........

[goosewa]

After taking a look at the ramp at Rotary Park I would not want to see the Ramp at Elizabeth Park. Marine Pollution Control had a boat at Elizabeth Park pulling out the used Oil Booms. There had to be oil just dripping from them.

I meant to tell you. There is a product called Roll-Away which I used on the non-skid decks of my 22' Walkaround. This stuff is great and only works for Fiberglass boats. I will read the bottle this evening when I get home and see if it will remove oil. If it does your in luck. It does a great job on bird crap and tree sap.

-Goosewa

[knockoff64]

This stuff looks to be pretty nasty, Over the last 24 hours there have been quite a few reports of damaged water pumps, and clogged intakes.

I hope that I am right about the consequences to the fishery, that it will not be seriously impacted.

Cangl, I hope your wrong, And I will remain optimistic until we see the full extent of the impact of this disaster.

I will however stay away from the river until we know the cleanup job is done. I for one don't want to make the job harder than it already is.

[goosewa]

Actually I believe that the EPA and USCG dropped the ball on this one. They should have closed the river to all Navigation. Might have made the clean up much easier. Nothing like a bunch of boats driving right through the bigger slicks of oil to break them up into smaller ones. Common sense would tell you otherwise. But, then again Common Sense would tell you not to dump oil into the river and we would not be talking about this.

I was out on the river last night. Most of the oil was pushed onto shore due to an east wind. There are alot of boats in the canals of Gibraltar coated with oil.

Last that I heard the Coast Guard estimated the spill around 5000 gallons. There are cleanup crews working in Canada to get it cleaned up as well.

-Goosewa

[Alex]

I agree goosewa. At least recreational traffic. Launches should have been closed till the this weekend.

[northern_outdoorsman]

5000 Gallons??? Is that the Amount of Actual Oil or does that include some water they sucked up? Seems 5,000 Gallons is an awful big amount and that should make the source easier to find...This really sucks man!:mad:

[Hamilton Reef]

Indictments are handed down in Rouge waste spill

A Detroit grand jury handed down a 12-count indictment Thursday against Comprehensive Environ-mental Solutions Inc., two of the company's former chiefs and one former site manager.

Charles D. Long, 41, of Brownstown Township, was a former plant manager and operations manager at the Dearborn facility. He is charged with conspiracy and violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

Bryan Mallindine, 50, of Carlsbad, Calif., the former president and chief executive officer of the company is charged with conspiracy, a Clean Water Act violation, and obstruction of justice.

Another executive who held the position of president, after serving as sales and then general manager, Michael G. Panyard, 44, of Pleasant Ridge, faces one charge of conspiracy, three Clean Water Act violations and seven charges of making false statements.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/012807/loc_20070128005.shtml
:bowdown: :woohoo1:

[FischInMich]

WOO HOO!!! Hang 'em high!!!

[FISHIN 2]

Why would something this severe take almost 5 yrs to come to a head? Seems like they should have had their a**** out there from day one and this would have been resolved a long time ago. NO EXCUSES, Mike

[bigwak]

To gather all of the evidence, charge people, get through the court systems, convict and sentence. They got them. Courts are notoriously slow. Sounds like you've may have not had the opportunity to experience court action...good for you:)

[Hamilton Reef]

To: Refuge Partners
From: John Hartig

See attached news release regarding the 2002 oil spill. For more information, please contact Stephanie Millsap.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephanie Millsap
EA 08-76 734-692-7628

September 17, 2008

State of Michigan and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Announce Restoration Planning Effort for Rouge River Oil Spills

State and federal agencies, acting as trustees of the natural resources of the Rouge River, have announced they will develop a plan to assess impacts on resources from oil spills that occurred in 2002. The trustees’ plan will also include measures to restore fish, wildlife and habitat affected by the spills.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Michigan’s Attorney General, Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources, are drafting a plan to assess and restore resources lost or degraded as a result of two separate spills in April 2002. These spills sent oil and diesel fuel into the Rouge River after heavy rains in the area. One spill was contained in the Rouge River, but the other traveled down the Rouge River to the Detroit River and eventually to Lake Erie.

The trustees are developing a plan for assessing and restoring the migratory birds, fish, aquatic plants and animals, and shorelines affected by the oil spills. Those impacts included death or injury to living organisms, loss of habitat, and loss of public recreational use of beaches and other areas. Restoration of these resources often includes replacement or restoration of habitat and development or enhancement of public use facilities.

Under the Oil Pollution Act, trustees for resources injured by such spills may conduct assessments on affected natural resources, plan restoration activities, and seek funding to implement those actions through the Natural Resources Damage Assessment program.

Investigators have been unable to determine who is responsible for the spills. However, trustees have requested funding through the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Pollution Funds Center.

The trustees invite public review of and input during the assessment and restoration planning process. Comments or questions may be directed to Dr. Stephanie Millsap, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. EPA Large Lakes Research Station, 9311 Groh Rd., Grosse Ile, MI 48138, telephone (734)692-7628; e-mail stephanie_millsap@fws.gov More information is available on the web at http://www.marineincidents.com/rouge_river.html
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.


John H. Hartig, Refuge Manager
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Large Lakes Research Station
9311 Groh Road
Grosse Ile, MI 48138
Phone: 734-692-7608
Fax: 734-692-7603
E-mail: john_hartig@fws.gov

[Big Daddy Benelli]

Gotta love the St. Clair River!