An assessment of water quality, crayfish and Corbicula of the Reedy River, South Carolina following a diesel oil spill

Gerrit J. Jöbsis
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Post Office Box 167, Columbia, SC. 29202. Phone: 803-734-4134, Fax: 803-734-6020, gerritj@scdnr.state.sc.us

On June 26, 1996 a subsurface pipeline ruptured and discharged approximately 957,600 gallons of #2 fuel oil (diesel) into the Reedy River, near Greenville, South Carolina. The spill affected 23 river miles. Approximately 94% (897,120 gallons) of the diesel fuel was recovered during cleanup operations. Subsequent to the spill, the responsible party and the State of South Carolina cooperatively developed a program to assess the impacts to and recovery of the biological community within the Reedy River. The assessment program included sampling of the water column, Corbicula and crayfish (additional sampling of fish and macroinvertebrate communities will be presented separately). Five sample sites, one upstream and four downstream of the oil spill, were sampled through October 1997. Water-column sampling included analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons and diesel-range organic concentrations. Biological sampling included population assessments of Corbicula and crayfish, and concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tissues of these organisms. A detailed summary of the population and tissue sample results will be presented. These data suggest the biological community of the Reedy River is recovering from spill-related impacts.