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Work group hears ongoing sediment runoff concerns from solar‑facility sites; staff to follow up with inspections
Summary
Members reported continued sedimentation and orange discoloration in Mill Creek, Jones Creek and Lake Shawnee following land‑disturbing activity tied to solar development; county staff described prior enforcement and directed follow‑up with stormwater inspectors and DEQ as needed.
During the March 4 meeting Powhatan County’s Citizen Work Group raised continuing concerns about sediment and runoff from large land‑disturbing projects, including a solar facility that participants said left orange sediment extending through Mill Creek and Jones Creek toward Lake Shawnee.
A work group member described visible orange sediment in Mill Creek that persisted for nearly two weeks and said the plume extended into downstream tributaries and a built pond. The speaker said the appearance and extent of sediment suggested a major land‑disturbing event and asked whether county enforcement and DEQ had taken action.
Stormwater/environmental staff Jamie described the county’s standard protocol: sites with more than an acre of disturbance trigger state review for erosion‑and‑sediment control and the county inspects active sites. He said county personnel had inspected the area in question and that DEQ had significant involvement in a prior solar‑site enforcement action in 2013–2014 that resulted in fines. Jamie said there are federally required avoidance/minimization standards for impacts to waters under the Clean Water Act — in particular, Clean Water Act authorities and the Virginia Water Protection Program are used when wetlands or waters are affected — and that large land‑disturbing activities require erosion‑and‑sediment controls and regular inspections.
At least one participant said the county’s stormwater inspector had visited the site and believed adjacent properties and residential construction also contributed to observed sedimentation; the inspector’s assessment was that multiple sources played a role. Staff agreed to follow up with the county’s erosion‑and‑sediment control inspector and with DEQ to ascertain enforcement status and to report back.
Ending: Staff committed to follow up with the stormwater inspector and DEQ, verify inspection records and enforcement actions, and report findings at the next work group meeting. Several members urged timely follow‑up given the continued visible sedimentation in county waterways.
