DEQ tells Fallon County golf-course pond is state water; lining, nutrient plan and coliforms under review

Lindsay Kravarichka, water quality division administrator for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, told Fallon County officials that the golf-course pond receiving treated lagoon effluent is legally a state water and therefore subject to state nutrient‑management and discharge requirements. "That pond is a state water," Lindsay said, adding that the situation requires a nutrient management plan (NMP), an operation and maintenance (O&M) plan and, in many cases, a liner for the pond.

County and golf-course staff said the wastewater leaving the lagoon is chlorinated and that E. coli levels at the outfall are essentially non‑detectable after treatment, but they acknowledged difficulty meeting DEQ total‑coliform standards in the pond itself because of wildlife and ambient sources. "My testing so far has always indicated that the E. coli are essentially 0 after chlorination," a local testing representative said, while adding that total coliforms in the holding pond remain above DEQ numeric limits in some sampling events.

DEQ staff and county representatives discussed several technical paths forward. DEQ noted that deviations to standard criteria can be requested but must be supported by additional sampling and analysis; county staff said three deviations had been submitted previously, were initially denied, and would be resubmitted with extra data. County representatives also asked whether pond lining could be approved separately from the nutrient plan; DEQ staff said lining could be considered but cautioned that spending large sums (county estimated about $0.5 million) before O&M and plan approvals risks wasted taxpayer dollars if the NMP or deviations are ultimately denied.

Officials agreed on an immediate next step: additional targeted sampling through August and September while county staff resubmit deviations and prepare a complete O&M package for DEQ review. DEQ staff proposed a follow‑up meeting or status email in October to review results and next steps. "We don't want a violation letter," Lindsay said. "If we see things on the books and there is violations and we don't do something about it, we are liable." Officials did not authorize construction or lining at the meeting; the commission and DEQ agreed to continue testing and coordination.

Next steps: county staff will collect the additional sampling data requested by DEQ, resubmit targeted deviations with supporting data, and coordinate a fall check‑in (email or meeting) to assess progress and examine sampling results before committing to lining or other capital work.