***To view more photos of the kaolin spill, click here. *** To watch YouTube Video of impacts, click here. KEYSVILLE, GA - January 2, 2012 - Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus spent the day surveying damage to Reedy Creek brought on by a busted 12-inch kaolin pipe near Hwy. 17. The busted pipe is estimated to have pumped several tons of what appears to be a mixture kaolin and surfactin into Reedy Creek in the last 48 hours. It is confirmed the spill has heavily impacted Reedy Creek through the Riverkeeper's visits to all of Reedy's major creek crossings.
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Busted Kaolin pipe at Hwy. 17 and Reedy Creek |
The summary of Tonya's site visit is as follows:
10:00am: Tonya begins site visit at Reedy Creek at Hwy. 17 where it is confirmed that a 12-inch busted kaolin pipe has pumped several tons of slurry into the creek. At this time, Tonya observes water flushing through the busted pipe.
11:30am: Milky-white slurry has now reached Reedy Creek at Hwy. 221. The area does not contain Georgia EPD real-time monitors, therefore the EPD is not currently monitoring Reedy Creek.
12:10am: Slurry has made its way to Reedy Creek at Hwy. 1 and this area notes the largest concentration of kaolin and surfactin as of yet.
12:45pm: Tonya has now reached Matthews, GA, where Reedy Creek flows into Brier Creek, and observes the presence of kaolin and surfactin slurry.
1:15pm: Tonya reaches Brier Creek at Keyesville, GA. The water at Brier Creek appears untouched by kaolin slurry at this time.
3:45pm: Tonya observes the kaolin slurry had now reached Brier Creek and the water at Brier Creek begins to discolor. |
