The effects of an oil spill on the macroinvertebrates and fish in a small southwestern Virginia creek

Abstract

Plum Creek, a small 4th order tributary of the Clinch River in southwestern Virginia, experienced an oil spill in May, 1973. Approximately 13,000 liters of No. 2 fuel oil entered the creek 4.2 km above the confluence with the Clinch River. Collections of benthos and fishes made at eight stations over a five‐month period indicated minimal mortality. Immediate mortality of water snakes and waterfowl appeared relatively high. Fishes did not exhibit significant decreases in numbers of taxa or specimens collected at the site of the spill for the length of the survey.