Why Erosion Control Rules Should Actually Be Enforced

We've had a lot of rain overnight and all morning and as you can see, the stream is running fairly high.

All of this rain makes it painfully obvious that the construction project down the street still doesn't have adequate erosion control, and muddy runoff is going into the nearby street drains that empty into the wetland across the street. There are regulations in place that should be enforced that would easily keep this from happening. According to the city's own information, a minimum of 2-inches of mulch should be used, not the ridiculously thin scattering that was applied at this location. Also maybe silt fencing. Whatever is needed to keep the soil on site. Once again, here is a link to a pdf version of the City of Kenmore's Erosion Control Requirements.

The houses being built here must have to pass periodic inspections, so the question is why the building inspector doesn't enforce the runoff regulations.

Here's my visual tour for you...

The sad attempt at erosion control.

These decorative bricks are not stopping the muddy runoff....

...especially when it is trying to hold back a little stream running off the slope.

Muddy runoff flowing across the sidewalk further west.

A lot more straw and a silt fence along the edge of the sidewalk seems like it would be a good plan to me.

Muddy runoff down the internal road.

Muddy gutters heading east on 192nd from the cul de sac.

Muddy water heading west from the cul de sac.

This is a big drain that directs water under the street and into Wetland #3, which stretches from 192nd to nearly Bothell Way and includes Swamp and Little Swamp Creeks.

The muddy puddle next to that large storm drain. Love the litter, too.