Monday June 8, 2026
Redheaded Blackbelt —
The mysterious white plume that turned Redwood Creek milky and reached the South Fork Eel River this week is believed to have come from nearby drilling activity, according to information provided to Redheaded Blackbelt by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Lab results that could confirm the substance are not yet in.
A Cal OES Hazardous Materials Spill Report filed Tuesday evening, June 2, first documented the opaque, bluish-white substance in Redwood Creek between Seely Creek and the Eel River along Briceland Thorn Road west of Redway. The substance covered the water shore to shore. Community members reported it had appeared the previous Saturday before clearing, then returned.
The material is now believed to be a mixture of bentonite, water, rock, sand, and clay — byproducts of drilling activity in the area, which has since stopped, according to CDFW spokesperson, Peter Tira. The situation remains under investigation. CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board both responded to the initial spill report. The water board collected a water sample and sent it to a lab for analysis; results are pending and may be available later today. CDFW’s environmental science staff is now checking for impacts to fish and other species.