Health Officials Advise People and Pets to Avoid Waterways in Sugar House Park, Hidden Hollow, and Parley’s Historic Nature Parks
Following the April 25, 2024 I-80 diesel fuel spill that impacted Parley’s Creek, health officials advise people and pets to stay out of potentially affected waterways until water sampling results are available.
Results may not be available for up to a week. Parley’s Creek flows through Parley’s Historic Nature Park (“Tanner dog park”), Sugar House Park, and Hidden Hollow Park. Responders have placed absorbent booms in the waterways to collect as much fuel as possible.
The accident occurred below Parleys Water Treatment Plant and Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities has confirmed that drinking water quality is NOT impacted.
Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) and the Utah Division of Water Quality have sampled the waters in the potentially affected areas. Officials on site have not observed impacts to fish or ducks in the waterways, but the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will monitor wildlife in the area and respond to reports of injured or deceased wildlife.
SLC Public Lands and Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation have placed signage at Parley’s Historic Nature Park (“Tanner dog park”) and Sugar House Park, alerting visitors to avoid the waterways until further notice.
The quantity of fuel in the creek is unknown. The truck involved in the rollover accident was carrying up to 180 gallons of fuel in its two saddle tanks, but much of the spilled fuel remained on the roadway and in absorbent booms placed on the freeway by SLCoHD staff early this morning.
Fuel sheen was present on the water at Parley's Historic Nature Park ("Tanner dog park") and Sugar House Park, and fuel odors were noticeable at Hidden Hollow Park and near 900 East (but there has been no sheen observed at those latter two sites).
Officials expect the forecast rain to clear out of recreational areas any remaining fuel not absorbed by booms. News Resources: