SALINAS, Calif- What is often a seasonal, normal practice of raising storm grates in Salinas is now raising concerns for the Monterey Peninsula's environment.
When storm season arrives, the city of Salinas often raises storm grates across the city to prevent street flooding and clogged pipes.
But with these grates being raised, environmentalists say this is leading to plastic bags and waste being dumped into the Salinas River, later being emptied into the Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
Regional Water Board officials for the Central Coast say there is little they can do to prevent these practices.
Salinas Public Works officials are reviewing the concerns and seeing if there is anything they can do to prevent the flooding and clogging, while making sure no pollution is being emptied into the river.
