News
Visitors' Guide
ENLARGE
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Despite emergency response efforts, an undetermined amount of diesel fuel spilled by a wrecked tanker trailer on Interstate 80 early Wednesday morning has polluted Donner Lake.
A three-axle tanker was traveling east on I-80 at about 6 a.m. Wednesday when the driver, Michael Anderson, 42, slid on the icy road and overturned, colliding with the guard rail, rupturing the tank and emptying about 2,500 gallons of diesel onto the roadway, according to California Highway Patrol. Anderson was uninjured in the wreck.
The spill was partially contained, but some diesel fuel flowed down the mountain and made it into Summit Creek, at the western mouth of Donner Lake, by 11 a.m., according to Nevada County Environmental Health officials on scene.
“We don't know the extent, but we know oil has made it as far as Donner Lake, but we don't know how much,” said Truckee Town Manager Tony Lashbrook.
Steven Poncelet of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District said no drinking water is threatened by the spill.
“We don't draw any water from Donner Lake,” Poncelet said. “Our water comes from deep wells.”
Lashbrook said the spill has the potential to impact water quality, fisheries, recreation and private property in the town; with Memorial Day weekend around the corner, he said there are no indications the lake will need to be closed, as of yet.
It was originally reported that as much as 3,000 gallons could have spilled from the truck, but 2,500 gallons is the more accurate number, according to CHP.
After the tanker wreck, eastbound traffic was stopped on I-80, and one lane opened at about 11 a.m. once the tanker was cleared. According to the highway patrol's incident website, the other lane should be clear by about 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Bill Hauck of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority — standing on Old Highway 40 Wednesday morning above Summit Creek — said the area reeked heavily of diesel fuel.
Downstream at the South Shore Drive bridge, where Summit Creek enters Donner Lake, personnel from Nevada County Environmental Health, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, California Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks and the Town of Truckee lowered two absorbent booms into place to stop the fuel.
Donner Lake eventually drains into Donner Creek, which connects with the Truckee River, hence Truckee Meadows Water Authorities presence, Hauck said, but just how it will affect Reno-area users is still unknown.
The following details remain unclear as of this writing:
• what company the tanker works out of;
• where Anderson is from or if he works for the tanker's company;
• whether or not Anderson was cited by CHP for the wreck;
• immediate or potential long-term effects to wildlife in the area and in Donner Lake and
• how long mitigation efforts from the emergency responders will last.
A three-axle tanker was traveling east on I-80 at about 6 a.m. Wednesday when the driver, Michael Anderson, 42, slid on the icy road and overturned, colliding with the guard rail, rupturing the tank and emptying about 2,500 gallons of diesel onto the roadway, according to California Highway Patrol. Anderson was uninjured in the wreck.
The spill was partially contained, but some diesel fuel flowed down the mountain and made it into Summit Creek, at the western mouth of Donner Lake, by 11 a.m., according to Nevada County Environmental Health officials on scene.
“We don't know the extent, but we know oil has made it as far as Donner Lake, but we don't know how much,” said Truckee Town Manager Tony Lashbrook.
Steven Poncelet of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District said no drinking water is threatened by the spill.
“We don't draw any water from Donner Lake,” Poncelet said. “Our water comes from deep wells.”
Lashbrook said the spill has the potential to impact water quality, fisheries, recreation and private property in the town; with Memorial Day weekend around the corner, he said there are no indications the lake will need to be closed, as of yet.
It was originally reported that as much as 3,000 gallons could have spilled from the truck, but 2,500 gallons is the more accurate number, according to CHP.
After the tanker wreck, eastbound traffic was stopped on I-80, and one lane opened at about 11 a.m. once the tanker was cleared. According to the highway patrol's incident website, the other lane should be clear by about 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Bill Hauck of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority — standing on Old Highway 40 Wednesday morning above Summit Creek — said the area reeked heavily of diesel fuel.
Downstream at the South Shore Drive bridge, where Summit Creek enters Donner Lake, personnel from Nevada County Environmental Health, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, California Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks and the Town of Truckee lowered two absorbent booms into place to stop the fuel.
Donner Lake eventually drains into Donner Creek, which connects with the Truckee River, hence Truckee Meadows Water Authorities presence, Hauck said, but just how it will affect Reno-area users is still unknown.
The following details remain unclear as of this writing:
• what company the tanker works out of;
• where Anderson is from or if he works for the tanker's company;
• whether or not Anderson was cited by CHP for the wreck;
• immediate or potential long-term effects to wildlife in the area and in Donner Lake and
• how long mitigation efforts from the emergency responders will last.
