Oil sheen spotted on Jordan River

SALT LAKE CITY — Absorbent booms have been placed in three locations along the northern end of the Jordan River after a slight oil sheen was detected Saturday morning.

Salt Lake Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Carson said city crews were notified of the contamination and quickly isolated it between 1100 North and 200 South, where booms have been placed. An additional boom is at North Temple, and absorbent pads have been placed in the city's pump station that ferries storm water runoff into the river.

Although the spill is probably less than 20 gallons of what is believed to be diesel fuel, Carson said even a little bit creates a "big sheen."

The city's public works and water departments will continue monitor the river, but no closures are in effect.

"It's no Red Butte," Carson said, referencing the June 11 spill of 33,000 gallons of oil into the creek from a Chevron pipeline break.

Some of that oil made its way to the Jordan River, which had restricted access for several weeks for cleanup purposes and due to public health concerns.

Carson said Saturday's contamination could have been the result of someone dumping product into a gutter, or it could be coming from a leaking diesel tank.

"It's unlikely we will ever determine the source," because of the expansive nature of the storm sewer system throughout the Salt Lake City area, he said.

The Jordan River, already classified as one of the most imperiled rivers in the nation because of its load of contaminants, has been the focus of an exhaustive restorative effort launched by Envision Utah. The plan, which grew out of more than a year's study and multiple surveys, hopes to tap financial support from cities along the river's corridor to preserve open space and attempt to eliminate sources of pollution.

Much of the water's troubled condition is due to more than a century of industrial and agricultural contamination. Concerns continue to persist due to run-off from storm drains.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com