U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Vance Street Pond

 
Site Contact:
Joyce Ackerman
On-Scene Coordinator

(ackerman.joyce@epa.gov)

Site Location:
3232 South Vance Street
Lakewood, CO 80227
 response.epa.gov/VanceStreetPond
NRC#: 1169011

A pond behind an office building in Lakewood, CO., was observed to have an unknown greyish-white "scummy" substance. Approximately 30 ducks and geese were found dead or impacted. A response was made by EPA, USDA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, West Metro Fire, Lakewood Police Department, and Lakewood Department of Public Works.

After a drawn out investigation, it was determined that grease trap liquid from storm drain(s) was the main substance that damaged feather structures of the waterfowl, causing them to lose buoyancy and become hypothermic.


Photo of two, dirty Canada geese on-site during initial response. Source: START Molly Patterson Photo of two, dirty Canada geese on-site during initial response. Source: START Molly Patterson Photo of two, dirty Canada geese on-site during initial response. Source: START Molly Patterson Photo of two, dirty Canada geese on-site during initial response. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Partial animal carcass that has been scavenged. Source: START Molly Patterson Canada goose carcass that scavengers have partially eaten. Source: START Molly Patterson Area where scavengers fed on an avian carcass. Source: START Molly Patterson One of many avian carcasses found during the initial assessment of the site. This is a female mallard duck. Source: START Molly Patterson One of many avian carcasses observed at the site during the initial assessment. This carcass has been fed on by scavengers. Source: START Molly Patterson White film and white stringy, chunks of an unknown substance floating at the waters surface. Source: START Molly Patterson Drainage channel between pond 1 and pond 2 at the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Drainage channel between pond 1 and pond 2 of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson Initial assessment of the site. Source: START Molly Patterson START performing air monitoring on a captured, live Canada goose. Source: START Molly Patterson START performing air monitoring on a captured, live Canada goose. Source: START Molly Patterson START performing air monitoring on a captured, live Canada goose. Source: START Molly Patterson White sheen observed on the inlet channel from the culvert to Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson White sheen observed on the inlet channel from the culvert to Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson White sheen observed on the inlet channel from the culvert to Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson START collecting sample VP-CO-SW. Source: START Megan Oller Sample VP-CO-SW's particles were electrically charged and clung to the sample container. Source: START Megan Oller Surface water sample VP-CO-SW. Source: START Megan Oller Surface water sample VP-CO-SW. Source: START Megan Oller View upstream to culvert and channel that lead into Pond #1. Source: START Molly Patterson View upstream to culvert and channel that lead into Pond #1. Source: START Molly Patterson View downstream from the culvert and channel that lead into Pond #1. Source: START Molly Patterson Coagulated white film floating at the waters surface. Source: START Molly Patterson View of sorbent boom at the outlet of Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson Sorbent boom placed within the channel between Vance Street Pond and Pond #2. Source: START Molly Patterson Boom at the outlet of Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson Looking downstream of the channel between Vance Street Pond and Pond #2. Source: START Molly Patterson Pond #2 looking towards the outlet end of the pond. Source: START Molly Patterson Pond #2 is surrounded by residential property. Source: START molly Patterson Pond #2 is surrounded by residential property. Source: START molly Patterson Pond #2 is surrounded by residential property. Source: START molly Patterson Cleanup crews packing up for the end of the day. Source: START Molly Patterson Carcasses collected that will be submitted for necropsy. Source: START Molly Patterson Vance Street Pond iced over during the winter night. Source: START Molly Patterson Scum on boom after it was used to cleanup the scum on the surface water of Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson Scum on boom after it was used to cleanup the scum on the surface water of Vance Street Pond. Source: START Molly Patterson Photo of results when a piece of the film was placed in MeCl2 and MeOH. Sample VP-P1-SW was used. Source: START Megan Oller Site image of pond #1 (Vance Street Pond) frozen from the previous evening. Source: START Joe Rudi ERRS performing a very rough estimate of water flow in the channel between pond #1 and pond #2. Source: START Joe Rudi ERRS performing a very rough estimate of water flow in the channel between pond #1 and pond #2. Source: START Joe Rudi Bailer showing the water column of pond #1. Source: START Joe Rudi Site photo of Vance Street Pond #1. Source: START Joe Rudi Site photo of surface waters of Vance Street Pond #1. Source: START Joe Rudi Boom placed at the inlet of Vance Street Pond #1. Source: ERRS Angela Ledgerwood Boom placed at an inlet culvert of Vance Street Pond #1. Source: ERRS Angela Ledgerwood Photo of lab analyses performed on avian feathers. From left to right, the method blank, non-impacted Canada goose feathers (used as a background), impacted Canada goose feathers. Source: ESAT Scott Walker
For additional information, visit the Notices section.