Baby Ducks Soaked in Sludge by Chevron Oil Leak
Our local oil spill disaster luckily won’t have a huge impact on the economy and fishing in the Salt Lake City Area. However, the environmental damage could be quite severe and last a long time.
Tens of Thousands of Gallons of Oil Leak into Red Butte Creek
A Chevron oil pipe spilled tens of thousands of gallons of oil into Red Butte creek, ponds at Liberty Park, and the Jordan River last weekend. It is probably responsible for more lost fish, birds, amphibians, and macro-invertebrates than we will ever really know. Video and photos show fish floating upside down and efforts to clean up geese, ducks, and other waterfowl have probably saved hundreds. However, the full impact on the ecosystem of Red Butte Creek, the Jordan River, and the Great Salt Lake marshes will probably not be realized for a long time. It could be years before things like invertebrate life and sensitive species of amphibians and fish recover.
Impact of Oil on Fisheries
If there is a bright side in all of this from a fishing perspective, it is that none of the fisheries impacted by this oil spill are considered blue ribbon fisheries. That said, there were trout and likely many other fish species living in Red Butte Creek that have probably been essentially wiped out for now. There are a few sport fish species in the Jordan River but the oil that made it that far likely won’t impact them too badly. As far as timing for recovery, it will take years for the area to recover. Although the major focus is on clean up, environmental studies have begun and over the next several months we will have a better idea of what the real and lasting damages are.
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
Jake Ricks
Owner/Guide
Utah Fly Guides
