There are pilings being driven for a house on 20th Ave. The FWC investigator I called in confirmed it was gasoline. The spill started when American began operations and it ended when they pulled their barge out. This is not the first time American has polluted this canal. The same problem occurred the last time they were here with their barge and I called FWC. These barges are not well maintained. At a minimum they should be putting a boom around their work site. Barges should also be inspected. FYI.
Barry Bowman ><\\\•>
Tom; On the canal between 16th and 17th street, on the 16th st side a
company I believe American Marine ( not sure) was installing a boat
house or lift about 2 weeks ago with there barge and suddenly left
Maybe they had a hyd hose break or something that spilled into the
water, anyway it's the right time frame and hyd oil takes along time
to evaporate and alittle spreads along way. Gas would have evaporated
in a day or so.. I hear someone pounding poles over that way today
,maybe they are back to finish. Scott
From: Roger Smith
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 6:33 PM
To: David Burnell
Subject: RE: Sheen in canal update
Dave,
Update on the Sheen:
On Friday after my previous update the USCG made contact with me stating they would send up a few reservists from Sector St. Pete. The reservist made contact with me on Saturday morning; we worked out a strategy to look for origin of the sheen once he arrived in the afternoon. I would meet them at the canal to search from our boat. I patrolled the canal area in the morning and found no noticeable "rainbow" sheen. However a faint greyish sheen could be observed in a few locations on an out-going tide, a few pictures were taken to document my observations. Later in the afternoon the USCG reservist contacted me via phone on this way back to St. Pete. He stated he had been at the canal, found no sheen, made contact with his reporting party and closed the report. He noted if anyone observed anything significant to feel free to reach out to the USCG in the future. I patrolled the area once again with similar results as I had observed in the morning. On Sunday and again on Monday morning I was unable to locate any notable sheen. Monday evening at 6pm I received a call about a sheen the canal; on investigation I observed a mild sheen along dock and seawall on NW 20th Ave. This appeared mostly grey in color with no notable odor; however if a sample was collected in a glass a very faint odor of gas or similar petroleum product was present. This morning and again this afternoon only a very faint sheen could be observed near the end of the canal at NW 19th St.
I will continue to monitor the area but it appears no new or significant sheen has been observed in a few days
Thanks,
Roger Smith
Water Patrol
City of Crystal River
From: David Burnell
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2018 1:51 PM
To: Roger Smith
Subject: Re: Sheen in canal update
Rodger, dish soap is really bad will Explain later but it increases the s fine by 10 times
On May 11, 2018, at 5:35 PM, Roger Smith wrote:
Dave,
I was unable to determine any significant sheen this morning, later in the day I observed a noticeable slick with the incoming tide. It was odorless and appeared to be dark brown/ greyish in color at the end of nearly every canal in this area. It looks like it may be breaking down and combining with pollen or other organic film on the water at the end of the canals. The picture attached is at the end of the eastern canal of Woodland at the boat ramp along NW 19th St. I talked to several of the neighbors in the area and provided contact information, I have yet to be able to identify the direct source of the sheen. I sent a few more pictures to USCG, they may send someone over the weekend to assist in locating the source.
Also one of the property owners stated he thinks one of the other neighbors may have put dish liquid in the water to break up the oil, he said it produced white foam by a boats passing by. I have no other accounts or evidence to support this but it is not recommended and would increase the environmental impact.
Thanks,
Roger Smith
Water Patrol
From: Roger Smith
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 3:13 PM
To: michael.a.walker US Coast Guard
Subject: Sheen in canal in Crystal River
Mr. Walker,
Attached to this email are a few pictures staff took today around 1130am, she made contact with the reporting party at 1940 NW 17th St in Crystal River. We received the original report on Monday (5/7/18); I observed a faint but noticeable sheen on the water with a mild odor of a petroleum product. My findings were reported to the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection. I have been monitoring the status of this sheen over the last few days from shore and patrol vessel. Over the last several days we have received a number of calls reporting the sheen, all within close proximity of the reporting location. The property owner on the north side of the canal located at 1641 NW 20th Ave has reported significant sheen and odor in the early morning for the last three days. It appears the majority of the reported sheen and odors are predominantly in the morning with incoming/ high tides.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or any if there is any assistance the City may be able to provide.
I had to attach the pictures to a few emails due to size restrictions.
Roger Smith
Water Patrol
City of Crystal River
Hi Tom,
Jim & I received a call from the Coast Guard today. They haven’t located a source and encourage the neighbors to travel the canal and see if they can see the source as well. He agreed it was likely coming from our canal and not the river. He also asked that people continue to report it as no news will make them think its resolved.
USCG 800-424-8802.
Thanks
Connie
Tom - For a week now there has been a lot of gasoline in the canal. The smell is so strong at times that we can’t enjoy our dock. It can’t be healthy for the fish or manatees either. Someones boat is leaking, someone has a leaking tank on land or one of the many construction companies here is operating equipment that is leaking. I’ve reported it to FWC and they were here yesterday, but obviously didn’t source it as its back today. What can be done?
Barry Bowman, C.R.M.P.
Comments:
This canal is the one that goes to the boat ramp along 20th Ave. Neighbors please check your boats, cars etc. to be sure there is no leak.
The following is an email from Dave Burnell, Crystal River City Manager to Mayor Jim Farley:
(personal information removed)
Jim,
This has been a problem since sometime last weekend, there is a film of we believe is fuel that comes and goes from the canals. This appears to move with the tides and evaporate during the afternoon sun. The Coast Guard has been out twice on the complaint and at that time there was only trace amounts in the canal and no apparent source. Rodger spent a half a day Tuesday trying to determine the origin, we flew a drone looking to find a source. There is some construction in the area that could have been the origin but unlikely reoccurring source.
Tomorrow morning Rodger is coming in early because the sheen seems heaviest early. My boating experience tells me it could be a boat in this general canal area that has fuel in the bilge and it randomly pumps some out with bilge water.
I have attached a communication Rodger made with USCG today on his day off about this issue with pictures Linda Burch was able to get today. It does not take much fuel to make this kind of sheen. Will keep you updated but staff is trying to find the source and get assistance from USCG and DEP.
Dave Burnell
City Manager
From: Jim Farley
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 4:22 PM
To: David Burnell
Cc:Tom Voelz
Subject: Fwd: gasoline
Dave,
Can you have someone look into this?
Jim
Begin forwarded message:
From: Tom Voelz
Date: May 10, 2018 at 3:01:32 PM EDT
To: Jim & Lynn Farley
Subject: Fwd: gasoline
Hi Jim,
Is there anyone on the city staff who can help with this?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Barry Bowman
Subject: gasoline
Date: May 10, 2018 at 12:26:47 PM EDT
To:Tom Voelz
Tom - For a week now there has been a lot of gasoline in the canal. The smell is so strong at times that we can’t enjoy our dock. It can’t be healthy for the fish or manatees either. Someones boat is leaking, someone has a leaking tank on land or one of the many construction companies here is operating equipment that is leaking. I’ve reported it to FWC and they were here yesterday, but obviously didn’t source it as its back today. What can be done?
Barry Bowman, C.R.M.P.