Diesel Fuel Sheen Contained on Lake Washington

A sheen of diesel fuel about 30 feet by 100 feet was being contained in Lake Washington off Kirkland Sunday by a boom and absorbent material, according to the state Department of Ecology (DOE).

The sheen was reported at about 10 a.m. Sunday and has been tracked back to two storm drains at the Shumway Condominiums at 528 Lake Street South, said Jani Gilbert of the DOE.

"The condos where the storm drains are has hired a contractor to clean up in and around those drains," she said. "The important thing is that there is no more diesel flowing into the lake."

The Kirkland Fire and Public Works departments, as well as King County Sherrif's deputies and DOE water quality experts responded to the spill.

The drains were plugged to prevent any more diesel fuel from getting into the lake. The amount of fuel that reached the lake was relatively small, perhaps no more than two gallons, Gilbert said.

"But any time a petroleum product gets into the water we are very concerned," she added.

A single quart of oil can potentially foul more than 100,000 gallons of water.

Exactly how the diesel fuel got into the storm drains was being investigated, Gilbert said, adding that there have been no noticeable impacts observed to fish or wildlife.

A passerby noticed the sheen and reported it to the city Sunday morning.