The Toro Creek Oil Site is located at the the headwaters of Toro Creek, approximately 3 miles east of State Highway 101 in a steep forested canyon (Toro Canyon) near Summerland, Santa Barbara County, California. Land use in the Toro Canyon area is a mix of residential and agricultural uses, and as a perennial stream, the Creek provides critical wildlife habitat.
USEPA was involved in controlling an oil release to Toro Creek since the summer of 1997 when a vandal disabled a State constructed oil/water separation system, resulting in a major spill of over 3,000 gallons of oil. From the oil seep to the Pacific, oro Creek was oiled for its full 4.5-mile length. The presence of oil/water separation systems on-site dates to 1882 when the site was picked for a commercial oil well/tunnel operation . Oil currently surfaces with the spring source of Toro Creek near the location of the original oil tunnel.
For years prior to this release, State agencies responded to the area to control releases of oil from improperly managed recovery systems. State funding was nearing exhaustion when the USEPA was requested to step-in and assist with recovery and treatment operations. Major project milestones during USEPA involvement include:
• Construction and maintenance of a unique dual clarifier system capable of handling max. peak flows of 800 gpm. The system incorporates over 300 feet of buried pipeline with secondary containment, a double-hull 6,000 gal. oil recovery UST, high level and overflow alarms powered by a solar panel and wired to an autodialer, heavy equipment access road, and fenced enclosures for all aboveground components.
• Addition of a 25-30 foot high mechanically stabilized segmental retaining wall to protect the oil/water separator enclosure from surficial sliding, slumping and rock fall.
• Routine system inspection, maintenance and recovered oil transportation services through USEPA contract mechanisms.
In the period of initial USEPA involvement through 2005, approximately 73,230 gallons (1,744 bbl) of oil have were recovered and prevented from reaching Toro Creek. Recovery volumes can fluctuate depending on several factors, but average at approximately 600-620 gallons per month.
A more detailed history of oil seeps and 19th century oil operations in the area, pre-USEPA State and local agency involvement and specific Oil Pollution Act funded operations for this project can be found in the following documents located in the Documents Link below:
• Toro Creek Project Background Document, and
• Toro Creek Project Timeline
On 3/18/09 USEPA transitioned all continued system operation and maintanence activities to the County of Santa Barbara concluding USEPA's nearly 12 year involvement with this site.
