Mystery Oil Spill Closes Chicago River's Bubbly Creek Area

CHICAGO, IL — A stretch of the Chicago River remains closed as workers and cleanup crews try to determine the source of an oil spill discovered along the south branch. The spill was seen earlier this week in the Bubbly Creek area, and the Coast Guard created a "safety zone" Thursday by shutting down that branch of the river while the Environmental Protection Agency investigates, according to NBC 5 Chicago. Officials are trying to establish the amount of oil that has leaked into the river, as well as where it's originating.

Local agencies began receiving reports of an oily film on the river as early as Monday. The affected span, which runs a little more than a mile bordering the Bridgeport and McKinley Park neighborhoods, is a popular rowing spot, and the coach for the girls' rowing team at St. Ignatius College Prep told NBC 5 the rowers had to hose down their boats Wednesday because they were so greasy.

Oil-covered geese also were spotted along the riverbank, according to DNAinfo. Crews are working to clean up the oil while officials investigate.

Along with the Bubbly Creek branch, a concentration of oil was discovered in a section of the river between Pulaski Road and Ashland Avenue, NBC 5 reports. That area, however, remains open to boaters, the report added.

Officials urge anyone who has seen oil in other parts of the Chicago River to call the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

More via NBC 5 Chicago

The Bubbly Creek area of the Chicago River (Image via Google Earth)