It's possible, but doubtful, that a moderate rainfall three days earlier contributed to this particular slick. Iridescent films characteristic of petroleum can be seen in several of the photos, though pollutants in North Bay have rarely been examined.
Four days after these photos were taken, a major rain event overwhelmed the already separated stormsewers at Parkwood and Glenwood Boulevards, the 5th Ward sewers which empty directly into Underwood Pond and then to North Bay.
Unfortunately, implementation of the Columbia Land Conservancy's "Concept Master Plan" for the "North Bay Recreation and Natural Area" marches onwards despite the shared failure of city and conservancy to take the bay's impaired water quality into account.
The city's position is that the ultimate diversion of all city runoff north of Warren Street directly into the North Bay will improve the bay for public recreation.
To make an informed decision, the bay should be tested. This would accord with the city's own policies as laid out in its Long Term Control Plan for Combined Sewer Overflows.
