Report of Barge Leaking Suspicious "Sludge" Unfounded

The yellow-orangish sludge that was reported seeping from a barge parked on the Petaluma River is actually rainwater mixed with sediment, according to the Petaluma Fire Department.

At around 11am on Monday, a resident reported seeing a barge near Steamer Landing that was discharging a toxic-looking liquid into the water. The concern prompted the U.S. Department of Fish and Game to investigate along with the Fire Department, concluding that the water was discharge from the vessel and not toxic.

Barge owner Chris Lind, owner of , a barge operator that also does dredging and supplies sand and gravel, said the company was replacing hatches on the barge and that the discharge was simply muddy water.

"The barge has never had any toxic material on it or even carried any cargo," Lind said.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CalRecycle are currently from the Petaluma River and have said that some are leaking hazardous materials such as oil, gas, diesel fuel and asbestos into the waterway.