OIL SPILL CLEANUP AND HABITAT RESTORATION—LITTLE PANOCHE CREEK, CALIFORNIA1

Abstract

ABSTRACT In September 1983, an underground pipeline break resulted in a 31,000 barrel crude oil spill into Little Panoche Creek, Fresno County, California. The crude oil spill saturated soil and vegetation for two miles along the creek. Although the creek in itself is not of significant economic or environmental importance, the collective protection of creeks in the area is important. Water is a limiting resource and wildlife habitats have been minimized due to agricultural development. The goal of the cleanup was to completely remove contaminated soil and vegetation so as to minimize direct damage to wildlife including the San Joaquin Kit Fox, a state-listed rare species and federally-listed endangered species. Mitigation measures included the construction of small water ponding areas to enhance the growth of existing marsh vegetation, and seeding to revegetate the creek banks with indigenous shrubs to provide cover for wildlife and minimize soil erosion. Although a large volume of oil was spilled, conditions such as slow water flow in the creek, easy equipment access to the creek, and a natural oil collection area provided for favorable cleanup conditions and resulted in 99 percent recovery of oil. Contaminated soil was stockpiled to allow it to biodegrade, rather than use the costly alternative of landfill disposal. The creek habitat was near full recovery one year after the spill. Recovery was assessed by the regrowth of marsh and shrub vegetation in the creek and its adjacent banks.