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Something is rotten in Santa Barbara
updated: Jun 13, 2012, 8:25 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I'm sure many many EdHatters have noticed that the Andree Clark Bird Refuge absolutely STINKS lately... you can even smell it, strongly, from the freeway. But does anyone know the exact cause? I remember in the past, particularly in 1990, that drought conditions have caused it to smell. Is that also the case now? Are we in drought conditions, or was it just the lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures over the winter that is causing the stink? It can't be very good for business at the restaurants that are adjacent to the Bird Refuge. What's the skinny (or should I say "What's the stinky")?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 287692	2012-06-13 08:32 PM
This is regularly caused by an algae bloom resulting from warm weather. The algae, in turn, causes a loss of oxygen which, in turn usually causes a fish die-off as well. In the past the City has flushed the refuge with fresh water to bring conditions back to normal.
COMMENT 287706P	2012-06-13 08:49 PM
Wow-I can smell it all the way to Alameda Park tonight. That's one impressive stink. Most likely not good for tourism by the way. I'd like to see the creek tax monies spend on the Bird Refuge; especially since the Bird Refuge ultimately drains into the ocean like the creeks do. It's really inappropriate for the Montecito resident director of Heal the Ocean tell us city folk how to spend our tax dollars.
COMMENT 287716P	2012-06-13 09:14 PM
706- The creek money is to keep the creeks and runoff clean to reduce pollution levels at our local beaches. The smell may not be pleasant to you but it is not a source of pollution so not an appropriate use of creek funds. Feel free to donate the money to crean the algae bloom from the bird refuge if it bothers you though.
COMMENT 287718P	2012-06-13 09:24 PM
16P-what is pollution exactly? Would water going into the ocean with excessive levels of algae running in the ocean be pollution? How about the excessive algae in the Bird Refuge? Does that count as pollution? Am I missing something? Do healthy bodies of water smell that badly?
COMMENT 287751	2012-06-14 07:08 AM
Does the smell have any connection with the sewage plant slightly south of the freeway near the Laguna/Garden exit? I smelled the stink several days ago and that was my husband's surmise.
COMMENT 287762P	2012-06-14 07:27 AM
I voted for the bed tax monies to go for creek restoration, to help, eg., East Beach by Mission, Salsipuedes Creeks, not for work on the Bird Refuge. I strongly oppose a diversion of funds to the Parks Department. The suggestion of donating money for work on the Bird Refuge is a good work. It is a property that was donated to the city and needs an endowment. Hopefully, those complaining about it will spearhead such a drive. I certainly would contribute to it. A start could be here - please publicize here on EDHAT! Or maybe if there is an effect on tourism, unlikely but who knows who stays away because of summer conditions at the Bird Refuge?, the area hotels, motels would finance it.
COMMENT 287823	2012-06-14 09:56 AM
@287706P It's really inappropriate for you to tell us, who voted for the use of our bed tax, to tell us how to use those funds, when what you're asking for is counter to the intent of the voters. The creek fund is for creeks; an odor is not a creek, and you know it.
COMMENT 287923	2012-06-14 01:43 PM
Wow. This round had to set a record on the speed that comments got totally off topic and into politics. The odor is caused by decaying organic materials which results from increased temperature and a growth and death cycle of these organic materials which is exacerbated by the lack of circulation and aeration of the water. If the water were drained the large amount of decaying matter that had settled to the bottom would result in an even worse smell, until it dried out thoroughly. This annual phenomena is common to small essentially closed water systems like the bird refuge where there is no replenishment of fresh water and water temperature rises rapidly as the air temperature and length of sunny days increases.
COMMENT 288042	2012-06-14 06:59 PM
i live by the mission and last night i stepped outside only to be blindsided by the wind carrying the bird refuge smell! So gross!!
COMMENT 288085P	2012-06-14 10:32 PM
Wow, 288042! I walked around the Bird Refuge this morning and noticed a mud smell that was only strong by the water near the zoo. It was a natural smell and not unpleasant. Hard to understand that you were "blindsided" miles away when I, next to it, found it no big deal. No doubt, though, the scents will be much stronger as the days heat up. Perhaps people here are just getting their complaining motors warmed up also.
COMMENT 288094	2012-06-15 06:18 AM
The city commissioned an engineering study a fee moons back. Diversion of creek from feeding ACBR combined with shallow warm water = massive algae bloom and death leading to decomposition and unpleasant smell. Circulation and aeration are needed to alleviate this condition. Deeper water level would help too but the mud at the bottom may be toxic and difficult to dispose of same as at the Matilija dam removal project in Ventura county. You may have seen the amercan express ad with Yvon Chouinard touting the removal of the dam, still in place because there is concern over disposal of the toxic chemicals in the sediment related to decoposition of organic matter.
COMMENT 289648	2012-06-20 12:28 PM
Of course the City is aware and concerned. After sending a note to the City just this morning 6/20 we got this quick response: Your email was forwarded to me from our Recreation Division. The Andree Clark Bird Refuge is experiencing an algae bloom and subsequent die-off resulting in odors. In the past, the City added potable water in an attempt to improve water quality. Since the water level in the lake is high, the City cannot pursue that strategy. This morning we launched our department boat and will spend the day aerating the water in an attempt to increase the oxygen levels. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you, Kathy Frye Natural Areas Planner City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation

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