The Smith Canal has reopened for fishing after a brief closure caused by an oil spill in the area last week.
About a mile of the canal’s waterway from Yosemite Lake at the American Legion Park to Mission Road had been off limits since Saturday amid cleanup and containment efforts. A safety zone had been established for the entire canal.
State officials say Sunday’s announcement to lift the closure came on the recommendation of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment thanks to progress on cleanup of the spill area.
However, officials still advise against eating any fish or shellfish caught in the canal.
Friday’s oil spill prompted response from local, state and federal agencies. A unified command post with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, California Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established in a joint effort to contain and clean petroleum from Smith Canal and protect nearby waterways.
Sheens of oil could still be seen Monday along the banks of Yosemite Lake, emitting a rainbow-like image, and the smell of petroleum wafted through the air along Smith Canal. Dead fish drifted faceup near the lake, and birds had oil stains on their feathers.
Oil booms — tube-like, cylindrical barriers used to absorb and contain petroleum spills in waterways — were still in place late Monday in the canal between Buena Vista Avenue and Shimizu Road.
While fishing in the canal and surrounding area is no longer prohibited, state officials say waters in the Port of Stockton, including Smith Canal, are contaminated by man-made chemicals unrelated to Friday’s oil spill and anything caught in the waterway should not be eaten.
“Additionally, (the state) advises that fishers avoid fishing in areas where there is any visible sheen remaining on the water or petroleum odor,” officials said.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified Friday that a petroleum spill had occurred in the state waters of Smith Canal, according to department officials.
The source of the spill appears to be from an oil burner that had a potential maximum capacity of 380 gallons, though authorities have not yet specified how much oil has gone into the canal. The oil burner appeared to have been removed by Monday afternoon.
Stockton Fire Department crews and the Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response were the first responders to the spill and deployed booms to minimize environmental impacts, officials said Saturday.
On Sunday, the Department of Fish and Wildlife announced via social media that a large swath of Smith Canal had been closed the day before for fishing after it was “a threat to public health” was likely. A safety zone was put in place, limiting access to the area “for safety and environmental purposes.”
Waterway restrictions were loosened Sunday based “on current cleanup progress and assessment of the area.”
The Coast Guard has opened the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund — established to cover costs of various issues related to oil spills — to pay for the initial response to the Stockton spill as well as containment and cleanup.
The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services advised that community members living along the banks or near the canal avoid the area and stay out of the water. Officials also cautioned pet owners to keep animals away from the canal and not let them drink from its waters.
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Miguel Villapudua and Vice Chair Paul Canepa released a statement Saturday saying they are keeping tabs on the situation and appreciate the “prompt response” from state and federal agencies.
“The San Joaquin Delta is a vital resource for water and recreation in our community, and we are dedicated to doing all we can to ensure that it is a clean, healthy and safe place to work and play,” the two said in the statement.
County officials say they will continue to update the community as the situation evolves.
People may report oiled wildlife to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877) 823-6926.
Anyone with information about illegal pollution of state waters is asked to call the CalTip 24-hour hotline at (888) 334-2258.