The pronounced red color of the contamination was noted by several people. One viewer described a thick gel with the consistency of lard. A sheen is evident between the water and the bank in this photograph.

The strong pungent, chemical odor of the contamination was able to be smelled some distance away.

The area affected was several miles long, though the gel tended to be worst in pools away from the main flow.

Trees down across the creek tended to capture and restrain the flow of the surface pollution.

Remediation began with the placement of booms across the creek at several points. Booms absorb the oily material and restrict its flow downstream.

The last boom downstream had a special yellow marking. The overpass for Morgans Run Road is visible in the background.

When a water sample was collected the thick oily gel was plainly visible.