The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has authorized a piece plan submitted to the company by Richard Minor of Gordon and Cherry County to mitigate harm to the Snake River ensuing from an unauthorized drainage ditch excavated from Minor’s property to the river in 2020.
According to EPA, discharges from the ditch into the river triggered in depth environmental hurt and violated the federal Clean Water Act.
“The Snake River is a critical aquatic resource,” mentioned David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s enforcement and compliance assurance division. “EPA is encouraged that Mr. Minor and Cherry County are taking steps to minimize further impacts to the Snake River and downstream property owners.”
According to the EPA, in April 2020, Minor and Cherry County personnel excavated the drainage ditch to the Snake River to alleviate flooding, with out first acquiring the required Clean Water Act permits.
Within days of finishing the roughly 2½-mile ditch, rainfall quickly eroded it, which resulted in large quantities of sand being deposited into the Snake River. EPA mentioned hundreds of thousands of tons of sediment have flowed into the river for the reason that ditch excavation.
Under an administrative compliance order filed with the EPA on June 14, 2021, Minor and Cherry County agreed to submit a piece plan to mitigate the harm. After a number of delays by Minor and the county, the EPA lately acquired a suitable work plan, which was authorized and finalized final month.
EPA mentioned implementation of the work plan would take a few 12 months and can embrace:
— The placement of downed timber and woody particles to assemble sediment entice constructions alongside the ditch.
— Construction of earthen berms to stop extreme circulate of water and sediment.
— The placement of a sequence of woody particles fences and log constructions alongside the ditch to entice sediment and create wildlife habitat.
— The set up of a riparian hall, consisting of native species alongside sections of the river.
