Water Board reports increase in water quality violations

In a report from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, enforcement actions against water quality violations have increased 25% over the past two years.

According to the Board, this increase is primarily due to its crackdown on cannabis cultivators whose activities threaten nearby waterways. Operating without permits, dumping trash into creeks and rivers, or building illegal roads that create erosion hazards are some of the allegations.

“While responsible cannabis cultivation is an important part of our region’s economic prosperity, the fact is that not everyone is following the rules. The ongoing blatant disregard for crucial regulations that protect water quality poses a dangerous threat to our environment and quality of life,” said Claudia Villacorta, assistant executive officer for the North Coast Water Board. “We’ve stepped up our enforcement efforts not only to safeguard the health of our creeks and rivers but to send a message to violators: If you harm our waterways, you will be investigated and cited.”

Since July 1, 2020, the board has issued 331 enforcement actions, a 25% increase over the two years prior, which include:

• 246 notices of violation (of these, 140 were issued to cannabis growers)
• 30 notices of non-compliance
• 12 cleanup and abatement orders (of this total, nine were issued to cannabis growers)
• Nine administrative civil liability complaints (one complaint issued to cannabis growers)
• 14 administrative civil liability orders (one issued to cannabis growers)
• Two expedited payment letters for mandatory minimum penalties