UPDATE, AUG. 8: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation investigated the spill Monday and said the agency could not pinpoint a source of the oil, but did not see any loss of fish or aquatic wildlife.
“TDEC investigated the oil dumping in Nonconnah Creek on Monday morning. We did not observe any loss of fish or other aquatic wildlife. Due to a rain event on Sunday, we were unable to observe any oil sheen on the surface water as observed in the video. We also have not been able to determine the source of the spill at this time.”
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state is investigating after someone reportedly dumped oil in the Nonconnah Creek.
The issue first came to our attention after a local named Jason Lurie shared video of the waterway on Sunday.
“Another great Sunday at Nonconnah Creek. A lot of great rocks up here. I just need some clean water and look what I have,” Lurie said in the video published to Facebook.
He turns the camera to reveal murky, green and brown-colored water.
“Not good water. It was perfect yesterday,” he said.
After walking upstream, the water suddenly turned black.
Lurie urged people to share the video in the hopes it would reach the right people who can take action.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation confirmed to WREG Monday they are investigating the matter.
Nonconnah Creek is 281 square miles long and drains into the Mississippi River.
It’s unclear how much oil was dumped into the creek or who did it.
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