Last winter, sediment-laden water ran off the site where the new Stafford Creek Corrections Center is being constructed. The construction project has caused repeated discharges of sediments and cloudy storm water. The discharges allow silt to get into the creek and degrade water quality.
Silt can kill salmon in the creek by clogging their gills and blocking their oxygen supply.
Separately, Corrections voluntarily reported approximately 61 violations of the project's stormwater permit during a four-month period beginning Oct. 28, 1998. Self reporting is a requirement of the permit, which is issued by Ecology. It's critical the agency follows the requirements of the stormwater permit. The department will act immediately.