Photo by Danny Fulgencio
The City of Dallas has crews monitoring Lake Cliff Park after oil was discovered in the lake on July 30.
City teams and a certified remediation contractor were dispatched to remediate the spill and the city notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The city found in its site investigation that the oil in the lake originated from a release of oil into a storm drain from a private company offsite that then migrated to the lake. The City of Dallas crew estimates that 70-80 gallons of oil were spilled and drained into Lake Cliff.
As of August 6, 2024, most of the discharged oil was cleaned from the lake, but minor sheen remains on the water with some oily spots on the ground and channel walls.
City teams are monitoring the spill booms and the water quality to bring the water parameters back to acceptable levels. Residents should refrain from fishing in the meantime.
“I am appalled at this situation and want to make sure the city pursues any legal action needed in order to hold responsible parties accountable, and ensure this never happens again,” said Council Member Chad West, District 1.
At this time, an estimated completion date has not been determined, but the city will keep the public updated.
“Lake Cliff residents are very concerned about the current situation,” said Jen Thornton, President of the Lake Cliff Neighborhood Association. “So many people in this community love Lake Cliff Park and enjoy it daily. We thank Council Member West for his quick action in addressing the situation. We will continue to work closely with Council Member West and his office to ensure this is properly managed.”
For more information about Lake Cliff and the cleanup efforts, residents can contact the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability, 214-948-4022 or stormwater@dallas.gov.
