Runoff at the Hanalei River is likely due to heavy rain drenching the Garden Isle, according to the state Department of Health.

The Clean Water Branch said runoff reported at the river in recent days is because of heavy rain from Aug. 22 through Saturday and not from the Hanalei Stream Bank Restoration project.

The state had received a complaint last month alleging violations of the federal Clean Water Act at Hanalei Bay and River in connection with the project. Soil for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources project was reportedly flowing into the river, potentially harming reefs and marine life.

The Clean Water Branch conducted a site inspection Aug. 19, according to the DOH.

“At that site visit, DOH staff did not witness the allegations taking place,” said spokeswoman Janice Okubo on behalf of Clean Water Branch Chief Alex Wong.

An inspector of DLNR’s project consultant, AECOM, has conducted inspections and is at the site on weekdays to monitor construction.

Okubo said the Health Department has been working with DLNR to minimize the risk of sediment from the project.

The $2.3 million stream bank restoration project started in June 2014 and is slated to be completed in December. The state initiated the project after a portion of the stream bank breached in the mid-1990s and has continued to erode since then, according to DLNR Chief Engineer Carty Chang.

“The breach has also created a split flow condition in the river which, if not corrected, will cause further erosion of the breach section and continue to put adjacent homeowners’ properties and Hanalei Bay at risk,” he said.

The project will restore and ensure a consistent flow of water in the river, which is the primary source for taro cultivation and wetland habitat within the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.

Contractor Goodfellow Bros. Inc. is using an estimated 4,742 tons of fill to restore the breach.