Local officials and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) responded Saturday, July 18, after discolored water was observed in Campbell Branch in Stuart.
Carol Ragsdale reported the discoloration after seeing the waterway while taking an early morning walk on the Mayo River Trail.
According to a DEQ social media post, a nearby business accidentally spilled blue-green dyed hydroseeding mulch and is working to recover as much of the material as possible.
“While the creek looks alarming, the dye is nontoxic. No wildlife impacts have been reported,” the post states.
Online reports and local officials identified the company as Faith Mulch. Representatives with Faith Mulch did not respond to requests for comment.
Stuart Mayor Terry Dalton, who also volunteers with the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department, said he and the department responded to the spill July 18.
