ABSTRACT On April 6, 1993, a crude oil pipeline ruptured releasing an estimated 6,200 bbl of blended San Joaquin Valley crude oil (2T API gravity) which flowed overland and through interstate freeway storm-water culverts to a small stream in Kern County, southern California. A mixture of crude oil and water flowed 12 km downstream to an emergency containment/underflow dike. Response operations were completed within 21 days resulting in recovery of approximately 3,400 bbl of liquid crude and an additional 1,200 bbl of oil contained in nearly 19,000 yd3 of excavated soil and streambed sediments (74 percent recovery). Water quality data collected throughout the stream within 24 hours of the release demonstrated total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH; method 8015-modified, GC/FID) concentrations ranging from 55 to 120 mg/L with BTEX (total benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers; method 5030/8020) concentrations less than 145 ≤g/L. Within 72 hours of the spill, TPH concentrations were less than 8 mg/L and total BTEX concentrations were less than 25 ≤g/L. Within five weeks of the spill, TPH and most BTEX constituents were below detection limits. Average sediment TPH concentrations in impacted stream segments ranged from <100 to 21,733 mg/kg prior to cleanup while postcleanup samples ranged from <50 to 1325 mg/kg. Average September concentrations ranged from 11 to 299 mg/kg. Qualitative benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected within a few days of the spill indicated reduced taxonomic diversity and numerical abundance in impacted stream segments. Quantitative macroinvertebrate samples collected five months after the spill, however, identified diverse and abundant benthic macroinvertebrate populations, relative to reference stations, where streamflow volumes were sufficient to maintain such invertebrate communities. Upstream vegetation was characterized as cottonwood-willow riparian woodland that may have experienced some spill-related stress in the form of leaf drop, which was photographically documented. A transition riparian zone, dominated by mule fat, tamarisk, and red willow, exhibited no symptoms of stress following the spill. Annual grassland dominated by nonnative grasses, forbs (broad leaved, nonwoody plants), and native wildflower species occurred along the lower portions of the creek and was not affected by the spill except for the physical impact of cleanup operations. Avian surveys conducted in riparian habitat in April and June suggested that bird populations utilizing oiled and unoiled reaches of Grapevine Creek were similar. Lower species richness and abundance in April was attributed to extensive response operations. Avian surveys conducted along downstream, dry wash portions of the creek in June, however, indicated greater species abundance and diversity along these previously oiled reaches of the creek relative to an unoiled reference channel.