Oil Sheen on Water
focb April 23rd, 2008
On the new FoCB Flickr site, there is a comment about an ‘oil sheen’ seen on site. The description wonders where that ‘petroleum sheen’ could/may have come from.
Upon as close an exam of the photo as possible the likely culprit seems to be from one of (or more) the chainsaws used during the cutting period.
Chainsaws all use oil to lubricate the chain when running along the chainbar: reduces friction and wear. Also, as course of the running process, it becomes a regular condition for film of oil and gasoline to coat the outside surfaces of the saw: body and blade.
Therefore it is easy to see this petroleum could have been deposited on the snow and ice and just recently reached the water surface. Or, it may have percolated through the grasses, from an earlier deposit, to just now - with the warmer weather - show on the water surface.
Either way, the likelihood of any wholesale - current or past - contamination is unlikely. At this point I don’t see that it’s cause for concern over a potential ‘hidden’ source of pollution.
It is something to be concerned with though, as a matter of sloppy work habits among the contract workers on the clearing crew. This should - and will be - investigated.
O’fieldstream
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