STOCKTON, Calif. — For a fifth day, state and federal crews were on Stockton's Smith Canal after an illegal dumper caused an oil spill.
"I think they got most of it," said neighbor Chris Collins who came to the levee to observe the cleanup efforts as one last pickup truck was being loaded with barrels of waste from the canal's waters." You can still see that like rainbow-looking sheen on the water, but it's not the big sludge — creek of sludge — coming down through no more."
The oily sludge started flowing Friday from a 380-gallon oil burner that officials said was illegally dumped along the canal's banks. State and federal crews set down booms the same day to prevent the oil from ending up in the Delta, but not before it contaminated a near mile-and-a-half long stretch of the canal, which runs right behind Collins' house.
"Somebody had to have seen something. I just really wish they would say something or turn them in or give any information (they) can," Collins said. "This is just horrible."
The EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Coast Guard-hired contractor led the cleanup efforts. The agencies picked up a combined 400 gallons of used cleanup products, oily waste and floating debris.
However, there might still be more work left to do. The Coast Guard opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to cover the initial response and accept claims from private dock owners who will have to clean up leftover oil themselves.
"They’re doing a good job. It’s about back to normal. It’s never really super clear here," said Collins who is hoping the illegal dumper behind the mess is caught. "They just don’t care what’s going on around them, the environment or nothing. They need to do some time."
So far, officials said the spill has not impacted wildlife, but the Oiled Wildlife Care Network is on standby just in case. Boaters are still being asked to avoid the canal.
Watch more from ABC10: State, federal officials work to clean up oil spill in Stockton canal
