NOAA Responds to Oiled Birds in CA

January 21, 2005 ? Since January 12, 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) has been providing scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response in dealing with an oiled bird incident near Ventura, California. Starting on January 12, hundreds of oiled birds began coming ashore at numerous beaches in Ventura County and by January 15, had come ashore as far south as Santa Monica. The source of this oiling was unknown, though several potential causes were identified, including a several mile slick around a nearshore platform and a storm-induced significant landslide in an inland area known to contain formations of crude oil. NOAA's Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary also assisted the USCG by providing a vessel to allow sampling of the platform slick. 

The current hypothesis is that the oil likely came from an upland region, perhaps a natural or abandoned well, which released into either the Santa Clara or Ventura River during the storm. This conclusion was reached through OR&R's analysis of the oiled bird locations and oil movement, evaluation of satellite imagery, and discussions with the U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA's National Weather Service, and other agencies to determine increased storm river flow rates. Additionally, OR&R prepared a brief for the Regional Response Team on Janaury 18.