Lahontan executive officer highlights enforcement settlements, staffing changes and violations spike
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Summary
Executive Officer Ben Letten presented the Lahontan executive officer report covering Oct'Dec 2025, recognized longtime board member Keith Dias, announced promotions and hires, and staff reported a spike in third-quarter violations tied to statewide permit re-enrollment deadlines and two sizeable administrative civil liability settlements.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board received its executive officer report covering October through December 2025, during which Executive Officer Ben Letten recognized long-serving board member Keith Dias, announced staff promotions and new hires, and summarized enforcement and violations activity for the region.
Letten presented a resolution honoring Keith Dias for nearly two decades of service. "I really appreciate it," Dias said after the resolution reading and thanked staff and board members for their support.
Staff enforcement reporting by Shelby Barker, senior engineering geologist and enforcement coordinator, noted 349 violations during third quarter 2025; the increase was driven largely by a Sept. 1, 2025 deadline requiring dischargers under the prior construction general permit to enroll under the 2022 permit or file a notice of termination. As a result, the State Water Resources Control Board issued 223 notices of violation to entities that did not complete re-enrollment. Barker also reported 97 notices of violation to enrollees for failing to submit the 2024 annual report under the 2022 construction or industrial general permits. Lahontan staff issued the remaining 31 violations in the region and described cleanup progress on unauthorized discharges.
Shelby Barker summarized two finalized administrative civil liability (ACL) settlements highlighted in the executive officer report: an ACL with Stonebridge Properties LLC and Tigard Construction related to a project in Truckee for $917,199 (with $472,199 remitted to the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account and $445,000 conditionally suspended pending a supplemental environmental project), and an ACL with Caltrans and North Tahoe Public Utility District for an 85,000-gallon untreated sewage discharge to Lake Tahoe totaling $850,000 (with $5,000 remitted and $845,000 conditionally suspended upon completion of a SEP that exceeded 50% of liability and benefits a severely disadvantaged community).
Letten also announced internal staffing updates and vacancies, including promotions and the recruitment of several technical positions across the region. The board had no questions on the EO report and moved on after the summary.
The executive officer report and associated articles in the packet include additional background on regional projects and program activities.