California wildlife threatened by oil spill

This 18 December 2013 video from California in the the USA says about itself:

Project For Awesome 2013: Gaviota Coast Conservancy

This video from the USA says about itself:

Santa Barbara coast devastated by nightmare oil spill

21 May 2015

A “devastating” oil spill threatening California beaches has now spawned two slicks spanning nine miles, says the US Coast Guard.

It is one of only five climate zones of its type in the world, but California’s Gaviota coast in Santa Barbara county, is facing an ecological disaster.

From Ocean Conservancy in the USA:

Oil Spill Threatens the Galapagos of North America

California leads the nation in marine protection with the largest network of marine protected areas in the country. The Gaviota oil spill puts ten years of cooperation between fishermen and conservationists to protect the state’s crown jewels at risk.

May 20, 2015

Statement from Greg Helms, manager, Fish Conservation Program, and Santa Barbara-based marine protected area expert:

Santa Barbara, CA: “Yesterday’s crude oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara County, resulting from an inland pipeline break, is a reminder that oil and water don’t mix. California leads the nation in marine protection with the longest network of marine protected areas in the country. In the Gaviota Coast area with its world-class and irreplaceable marine life, the community has just completed years of work establishing four marine protected areas due to its very special nature. The currently four-mile long oil slick puts ten years of cooperation between fishermen and conservationists to protect the state’s marine crown jewels at risk. The threat that this oil spill poses to important locally harvested species like sea urchin, squid and lobster as well as marine mammals and seabirds, and the Naples Reef and Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Areas that serve as their feeding and breeding grounds concern us. The companies must be held fully accountable for the impacts of this spill. This spill is a wake-up call for us to look at how we as a state prioritize the different uses of our ocean and the risks associated with them. ”

Greg Helms is a 25-year resident of Santa Barbara. He manages fisheries programs on the West Coast for Ocean Conservancy, and was a key player in the planning process that created marine protected areas at the Channel Islands (effective in 2003) and the southern California coast (effective in 2012). He is a scuba diver and surfer, and very familiar with the geography around the oil spill.

Ocean Conservancy educates and empowers citizens to take action on behalf of the ocean. From the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico to the halls of Congress, Ocean Conservancy brings people together to find solutions for our water planet. Informed by science, our work guides policy and engages people in protecting the ocean and its wildlife for future generations.

See also here.

The broken Plains pipeline funnels 45,000-50,000 barrels of produced oil a day between ExxonMobil‘s Las Flores Canyon Processing Facility near Refugio to the Plains [All American Pipeline]-owned Gaviota pumping station: here.

From the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, 21 May 2015:

The Los Angeles Times reports that the pipeline operator, Plains Pipeline, has a rate of incidents per mile three times greater than the national average. Plains is number five in incidents nationally, among 1,700 pipeline operators. They have repeatedly stated their “deep regret that the release happened.” This pipeline carried up to 6,300,000 gallons of oil daily.

Due to the hazards and the nature of current cleanup activities, volunteers are not desired at the site at this time. See here to learn when and how you can help out.

Local groups are planning a “Stand in the Sand” event at Noon on Sunday, May 31, on State Street in Santa Barbara.

An on-shore oil pipeline ruptured near the coastal city of Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday, causing as much as 105,000 gallons of crude to spill onto the shore. State officials say that at least 21,000 gallons of that oil has reached the sea, causing an oil slick that spans nine miles: here.

What the Oil Spill Off Santa Barbara Is Going to Kill: here.

Pipeline in Santa Barbara oil spill lacked key safety feature: here.

Richmond, California stands up to Chevron – tells them oil and democracy don’t mix: here.

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