Black Waters

CA oil spill a tragic reminder of the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels

Last night California Governor Brown declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County. Why? Because disaster has spilled into America’s coastal waterways once again.

Just last month April 20th marked the fifth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is considered to be the worst oil spill in U.S. history. As we are still seeing the impacts of this catastrophe – and will continue to for decades to come – another major spill has occurred in U.S. waters off of the California coast. On Tuesday, an 11-mile-long onshore pipeline ruptured near Refugio State Beach just north of Santa Barbara, spilling some 21,000 gallons (79,000 litres) of oil into the ocean and on beaches before it could be secured. According to most recent estimates, more than 100,000 gallons spilled in total from the pipeline, owned by the company Plains All American. On the eve of a big holiday weekend, Refugio State Beach and campground and El Capitan State Beach and campground have been closed until further notice, and fishing and gathering of shellfish in the spill area is banned.

Wildlife rescue crews have been on the ground working to help any wildlife they find affected; conducting wildlife reconnaissance and search and rescue activities; and quickly assessing impacts of this latest spill. The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has activated the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), and local animal rescue and environmental groups such as Clean Seas and the Environmental Defense Center are assisting.

We hope that the efforts of the rescue crews will reduce the amount of wildlife affected by the spill, but sadly, already we know that scores of birds, sea lions, fish, shell fish and other marine animals will suffer in the wake of a spill of this magnitude. This region of the central coast is especially sensitive and supports a diverse order accutane array of wildlife, including the threatened California sea otter. This oil spill took place just a stone’s throw south of the sea otter range, and individual sea otters have occasionally been spotted within the area where the spill occurred. The potential for the spill to impact sea otters, as well as many other species, is high.

This most recent spill is yet another tragic example of why our nation’s aging infrastructure and dependence on an outdated fossil fuel-based economy simply cannot support a healthy, thriving environment for people or wildlife. The pipeline that broke was installed in 1987 –more than 25 years ago. According to the LA Times, Plains All American has “accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions since 2006,” and “Plains’ rate of incidents per mile of pipe is more than three times the national average.” It is time to stop allowing companies to ignore their obligations to keep communities and the environment safe, and it is time to ask ourselves if perhaps we should stop investing resources in dated and polluting energy sources. Instead, as a nation, we must encourage the growth of clean, renewable energy development that is planned smart from the start with a healthy future for people and wildlife in mind.

Right now, we are all concerned about the wildlife in California, but please remember that it is important to let trained professionals handle the cleanup. Please resist the urge to try to help injured wildlife, as this could harm you or the animals. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at UC Davis have hundreds of pre-trained volunteers ready to help at a moment’s notice. If you happen to see wildlife that has been affected by the spill, you can find more information on who to notify on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Refugio Incident Page of the Cal Spill Watch website.