On this day March 19 1984 a Mobil Oil tanker spilled 200000 gallons of oil into the Columbia River creating one of the worst environmental disasters in the region’s history. The spill contaminated miles of water affecting local wildlife fish populations and the surrounding ecosystem.
The cleanup effort took months with environmental agencies and volunteers working to contain the damage. The spill raised awareness about the dangers of oil transportation and contributed to stronger environmental regulations in the years that followed.
80s insight: The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and is home to a diverse range of fish species including salmon which were severely impacted by the spill.