Vintage Greens LLC Pays $60,000 Fine for Construction Storm Water Violations

The North Coast (Calif.) Regional Water Board has received $60,000 in fines from Vintage Greens LLC for repeated violations of their construction storm water permit at the 450-home Vintage Greens subdivision, said Catherine Kuhlman, executive director of the North Coast Water Board.

The enforcement action, and associated fines, stem from excessive sediment discharges and wetland draining to Windsor Creek that occurred during late 2002 and early 2003.

Windsor Creek, a tributary to Laguna de Santa Rosa and ultimately the Russian River, is impaired by excessive sediment discharges. Severe discharges of sediment from the Vintage Greens development resulted from parts of the site that were left unprotected during heavy rains.

"Our staff are willing to work with developers and builders to ensure compliance with construction storm water permits, but will be taking aggressive enforcement action for sites that continue to be out of compliance" Kuhlman said. "For the 2005-2006 winter rain season, covering exposed ground to prevent sediment releases will be a focus of our staff inspections," she said.

Steps are being taken by many communities within the Russian River watershed to reduce sediment discharges from construction projects and agricultural activities.

Practices to control sediments at the Vintage Greens project have significantly improved since the violations were discovered. The project is in the final two stages of a seven-stage development covering more than 65 acres.

Source: NCWB