Our Troubled Sound: Spawning coho are dying early in restored creeks

Thursday, February 6, 2010

By LISA STIFFLER AND ROBERT McCLURE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTERS

City officials have forked out millions of dollars and volunteers have donated countless hours to lovingly restore Seattle-area creeks. But a groundbreaking study suggests that water in many urban streams runs dirty enough to quickly kill coho salmon -- most before they can spawn.

The culprit appears to be the stormwater gurgling off streets, parking lots and roofs, carrying with it oil, grease, pesticides and other pollutants, say federal scientists who conducted the study.

Learn more at: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/107460_coho06.shtml