Residents contest erosion, ‘chocolate milk’ runoff from Northridge Solar; county and Dominion say inspections ongoing

Powhatan County residents told the Board of Supervisors on March 24 that sediment and other runoff from the Northridge Solar construction have degraded water quality in Lake Shawnee and other community water bodies, and they urged immediate enforcement and remediation.

County staff reported it has inspected the site, issued corrective actions to the developer and Dominion Energy, and completed follow-up inspections. "It looks, looks really bad. It's like chocolate milk out there in the water," County staff told the board while summarizing recent site visits and corrective steps. Staff said some measures had been completed, that visibility of runoff improved after recent rain, and that sediment will take time to settle.

Why it matters: Residents said the change in water clarity threatens recreation, wildlife and property values in neighborhoods that advertise lakes as a reason people move to Powhatan. Several speakers pressed the county to enforce the special‑use permit and local erosion and sediment control rules and to require remediation beyond the solar field itself.

What residents said: Dozens of neighbors from Lake Shawnee described the same pattern in public comment. Linda Carcraft, a homeowner for nearly two decades, told the board: "This dream is now in danger." Other residents described visible sedimentation that they said had reached wetlands and tributaries downstream; several said homeowners already feared lost property value and a drop in lake-related association dues.

Technical and regulatory points: Residents and presenters cited the county's erosion‑and‑sediment control provisions (chapter 42, article 3 of the Powhatan County Code) and the conditions in the site's special‑use/conditional permit as the basis for enforcement. A county inspection report dated March 17 (signed by planner/environmental coordinator Jonas Eppert, according to the document) concluded that runoff from the site had not reached Lake Shawnee at the time of that inspection; residents dispute that finding and presented photographs and video taken after heavy rain showing orange/brown discharge entering creeks.

County action and next steps: County staff told the board it will continue regular inspections and has issued corrective actions to the developer and Dominion. Staff said they are tracking the work and will hold the contractor and Dominion accountable under local permit conditions. County staff also said they will review the history of complaint reports the county has received.

Dominion response: Julia Levitt, a Dominion Energy representative, addressed the board and residents near the end of the meeting. "We hear all the concerns that were brought to tonight's meeting," Levitt said. "We are taking this very, very seriously. We are taking both short‑term immediate actions and looking at long‑term actions to address the issues at our solar facility." She said Dominion is committed to working with residents and county staff.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a new enforcement motion at the meeting; county staff described ongoing inspections and corrective orders rather than a new directive by the board. Residents asked for water testing, full restoration of impacted areas and monitoring; the county said staff would continue to follow up and report to the community.

Ending: Speakers and board members emphasized the issue is time sensitive. County staff pledged continued oversight; residents said they will press for full remediation and monitoring until the lakes return to their previous condition.