The Dead Heron (Blue Heron?): seen on 3/2/2011: pollution

The dead Blue Heron encountered on the path alongside of the Tenakill Brook, Tenafly 07670, Bergen County, New Jersey. (unable to examine bird scientifically, I am not certain that I have identified the bird correctly.) The body of the heron was not in the water but on the brook's bank. Had it returned to the brook from a winter stay elsewhere or did it live through the eternal winter of 2010-2011 in Tenafly, managing somehow to survive the ordeal of cold, snow and ice? Such birds can overwinter, surprisingly. Holding my dog on a lead while I photographed was difficult, since she wanted to inspect the stream although I doubt that the dead animal would have interested her. From prior experience, I have learned that well-nourished pets will avoid close contact with a dead animal, although if the creature has been torn apart, it might try to snatch a fragment of the carcass. I show the find spot and pollutants in surrounding water. What cannot be doubted is the presence of gasoline: its noxious but beautiful "rainbow" color. Why is so much petroleum visible in the water? It is said by Tenafly's Newsletter to originate from the disposal of gasoline into the sewer system. But this is dubious. Who today in Tenafly is an self -made auto mechanic? Far more likely are gas stations and petroleum /gasoline leaks from vehicles. This matter runs-off from pavement into sewers. But the greatest amount may not be from leaky cars in this town, but from heavy vehicles used by various public services: snow removal trucks, leaf removal trucks and so forth. I cannot count how many times I have seen such vehicles leave behind a trail of petroleum. It is time for Tenafly and neighboring towns to check town vehicles and fix them if in fact they are leaking this deadly matter. Carcinogens, that is agents that contribute directly to cancer, are present in vehicular fuel. If these poisons did not flow into the Tenakill Brook but miraculously disappeared the problem would be solved. But miracles are unknown in this realm. The Tenakill Brook carries gasoline and other pollutants into the water supply to United Water that provides water for this town and others in the region.

Is the heron "the canary in the mine?"