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Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board fines grower $405K: Too much sediment spilled from orchard, regulators say

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 19, 2009 at 6:34 am

From the Modesto Bee:

“A Stanislaus County landowner faces a $405,000 fine because he let too much sediment spill into the Tuolumne River, say water quality regulators.

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a complaint last week against Mike Kooyman, who owns a 1,000-acre almond orchard on the southeastern edge of Stanislaus County, just west of Snelling in Merced County.

The water board says Kooyman failed to control erosion on his land and allowed soil to build up in Peaslee Creek and the Tuolumne River.

The six-figure penalty comes after a year of warnings from the water board. It could be the largest fine ever issued for irrigated agricultural land, said Joe Karkoski, acting assistant executive officer of the water board.

“I’m not aware of any other fine we’ve issued to irrigated ag land that’s larger,” Karkoski said. … “

Read more from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.

November 19, 2009 · Filed Under San Joaquin Valley

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