Why we need cleaner water | Federal Way letter to the editor, Jan. 28

Published 10:40 am Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Does it ever occur to these scientists that orcas, like their favorite food (chinook salmon), like clean water?

This type of water originates in rivers and streams like the one I have lived next to for the past 30-plus years, near the headwaters of one branch of the Hylebos Creek system in Federal Way.

It used to be thick with spawning salmon. This year, we saw two out of 12,000 fingerlings return that were released into this stream a year ago. Obviously, the attrition rate is high, but the underlying problem is most likely and logically that salmon like clean water, as do orcas and other creatures.

Will these scientists and, hopefully, other persons of power and influence immediately start moving toward providing clean water by eliminating stormwater run-off being dumped (untreated) into streams, possibly and logically putting it into storm drains leading to treatment facilities?

This would provide the clean water required for chinook, coho, steelhead and other species that would show their appreciation by returning to these streams to spawn and return to Puget Sound to grow and provide food for the orcas.

Donald Barovic

Federal Way