Unusual waters detected in a creek under White Rock Lake Trail. (Photo via WFAA)
Update:
The bright blue water spotted in a creek near White Rock Lake’s Sunset Bay is not harming local wildlife, it appears, although its mysterious source channel has yet to be located.
Environmental groups including the Trinity Watershed Management, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality were all involved in testing the water to analyze its impact on local waterways. East Dallas City Councilman Mark Clayton posted the following report on his Facebook page:
It reads:
“The citizen called into 311 with the spill complaint at approximately 11:08 am on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. The request was assigned to and investigated by a specialist. At 12:20 pm the specialist took and initial sample and tested for an array to water quality parameters including pH, chlorine, ammonia, phosphorous, nitrate and hardness. The specialist determined that more testing was required and called his supervisor to request assistance. In addition to Stormwater responding, Park Department and OEQ (City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality) also responded. The supervisor assigned different specialists to calibrate equipment and prepare the sampling kit for additional testing parameters. The second team of specialists gathered their samples and tested for dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, suspended solids and pH. Both groups of specialist investigated the channel to find a point source. The channel transitions underground, so the point source has not been identified. Staff has been upstream and downstream several times.
Yesterday’s preliminary testing revealed no significant impact to water quality other than color. Stormwater staff has been out again today and have grabbed samples both for field testing and to send to the lab. Staff continues monitoring this incident.
As of 4:30 this afternoon, the streams are running clear and remain free from any fish kills.”
He followed the report with a reminder to constituents to report any unusual environmental sightings: “If you see anything unusual in the water when you are at the lake, call the Stormwater Management Office on weekdays (excluding holidays) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can also contact 3-1-1. As you can see from this report, the first water samples were taken just over an hour of the call being received by 3-1-1 staff,” he wrote.
Here’s the original post:Â
An alarming shade of Smurf-blue water was spotted in a creek that flows under the bridge on White Rock Lake Trail. While the Trinity Watershed Management, which oversees the city’s smaller waterways, tested the water on Tuesday and Wednesday, there is no report yet of what is causing the unusual coloring, WFAA reports.
Some neighbors reported that the discolored waters smelled distinctly like sewage. So far, there have been no reports of it affecting local wildlife.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
