Diesel spill leaves sheen in Salmon Bay near Ballard Locks

The U.S. Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology responded Thursday to a diesel spill in Salmon Bay after the Army Corps of Engineers detected a strong odor near the Ballard Locks.

Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier of the Coast Guard said officials were dispatched to the area to assess the situation and locate the source of the spill.

“We believe it’s one of the ships that’s there in the Salmon Bay area,” Strohmaier said. “However, we don’t think it’s actively sheening. We think it was it just one point that it had entered the water and had created that overall sheen.”

Absorbent pads were deployed to collect diesel from the water’s surface. A lot of it has already dissipated.

The exact amount of diesel spilled has not been determined.

Diesel spill leaves sheen in Salmon Bay

“Any pollution that enters the water is obviously pretty serious. It’s a very sensitive and fragile ecosystem out here,” Strohmaier said.

Officials continue monitoring the area, ensuring no contamination reaches the Ballard Locks.

Residents who notice new sheens in the water are urged to report them to the Coast Guard or local authorities.

#USCG crews are on-scene responding to a diesel spill in Salmon Bay in Seattle. We are working alongside our WA Ecology partners to mitigate the effects of the pollution and find the source. pic.twitter.com/n6seqeck0f

— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) April 10, 2025

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