Mystery Spill, Columbia River; Clifton Channel, Columbia River, Oregon

Clifton Channel, Columbia River, Oregon | 1994-Aug-10

Initial Notification: A report of an oil slick was received from a vessel off Tongue Point by MSO Portland at 0100 on August 10, 1994. A USCG helicopter overflight at first light reported what appeared to be a substantial quantity of cleanable oil in and around Tenasillahe Island from Columbia River mile 38 downriver to approximately river mile 25. The Columbia River islands downriver of Tenasillahe are part of the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge. Based on observations and the area at risk, a significant response was launched. Cleanup contractors were directed to deploy the protection booming between Puget Island and the mouth of the Columbia River identified in the Northwest Area Plan's Columbia River Geographical Response Plan. Skimmers and contractor response vessels were mobilized. Subsequent overflights and surface surveys (shore and water) over the next two days failed to detect significant concentrations of oil anywhere in the previously identified locations. Light staining of marsh vegetation and widely scattered tarballs (.25 inch diameter) were observed along small sections of shoreline within the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge. A small section of sand and riprap shoreline near Hunts Mill Point (upriver entrance to Clifton Channel) had moderate oiling that was manually removed. Cleanup was completed on August 12. USCG district 13. Keyword: none.