Columbus officials and state environmental regulators are investigating a diesel fuel release into Roaring Branch Creek after a volunteer spotted a rainbow-colored sheen and an oily smell July 13. The creek runs behind the Cracker Barrel and Starbucks on Bradley Park Drive and north of Belfast Avenue, near the North Columbus Industrial Park.
The discovery, made by a volunteer with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK), prompted the Columbus Consolidated Government to issue a stop-work order for demolition activities at the former Aludyne Foundry LLC site and led to an on-site response by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
How the spill was found and initial response
CRK technical programs coordinator Ashley Desensi said the volunteer — who has been sampling Roaring Branch weekly over the past year — noticed the sheen and odor during routine testing. Desensi said she then traced the smell and sheen to a stormwater discharge roughly 300 feet upstream from an outfall where diesel was entering the creek.
“This is why programs like this are so critical,”
Desensi credited the network of volunteers for the quick detection. Under CRK’s emergency response protocol, she notified the EPD and Columbus Consolidated Government the next day.
State EPD personnel visited the site July 14. According to Desensi, responders used absorbent materials such as sorbent socks — devices commonly used to contain and collect petroleum products — to limit the flow at the top of the discharge. EPD communications director Sara Lips confirmed the release had stopped as of that visit.
Local action and regulatory follow-up
Columbus Consolidated Government issued a stop-work order against the company conducting demolition at the former Aludyne Foundry property and is seeking fines related to the incident, officials said. The EPD opened an investigation into a potential violation of the Clean Water Act, which governs discharges to U.S. waters and is enforced by state and federal agencies.
Officials have not disclosed the volume of diesel involved. Desensi described the spill as being “on the smaller side,” and EPD indicated the amount may be released when the agency closes its investigation complaint.
| What is known | Source |
|---|---|
| Discovery date | July 13, 2026 |
| Responding agencies | Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia EPD, Columbus Consolidated Government |
| Site | Roaring Branch Creek, behind Bradley Park Drive businesses; near North Columbus Industrial Park |
| Company involved | Aludyne Foundry LLC (demolition/closure activity) |
Local implications and next steps
The creek is part of the broader Chattahoochee River basin, a water system that supplies recreation and wildlife habitat for the region. While EPD stated the release had stopped and responders contained the immediate visible sheen, long-term environmental and regulatory actions can extend well beyond initial containment.
- EPD will complete an investigation and may disclose a final estimate of the fuel released when the complaint is closed.
- Columbus Consolidated Government is pursuing fines and has halted demolition at the site while the matter is reviewed.
- CRK and its volunteers will likely continue monitoring Roaring Branch Creek to document any lingering impacts and to inform follow-up response.
For residents who frequent parks or waterways near Bradley Park Drive, authorities recommend avoiding contact with discolored water or areas with an oily sheen until officials confirm conditions are safe. The EPD and local government typically provide guidance on recreational and drinking water safety if contamination risks extend beyond the immediate site.
The investigation remains active. EPD communications director Sara Lips said officials will provide additional details when the agency closes its investigative complaint.
Reporting will continue as state and local agencies release further findings and any enforcement actions are finalized.
