DEC investigating sudden milky brown appearance of Satterly Creek

News 12 was alerted to the change in the water color on Monday from a resident who lives nearby and sent in a photo of the creek.

Blaise Gomez

Mar 6, 2024, 5:35 PM

Updated 293 days ago

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The Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating reports of increased turbidity, causing a milky brown appearance, in the Satterly Creek in Blooming Grove.
News 12 was alerted to the change in the water color on Monday from a resident who lives nearby and sent in a photo of the creek. They also sent aerial photos of retention ponds at two nearby housing development sites in South Blooming Grove - Prospect Gardens and Clovewood - that they say were taken on Sunday and appear to show a similar water color.
The resident expressed concerns with the color of the creek and the proximity of the sites, noting that the area did not experience any rainfall within the 24-hour period proceeding the change in turbidity.
State officials confirm an investigation is underway but have not yet said what caused the change in the creek’s appearance.
Both projects seek to build hundreds of new homes and have been subject to prior DEC violations.
News 12 has a call out to South Blooming Grove officials for more information.