Fine Imposed on State Transportation Agency Over Tahoe Pollution

The state Department of Transportation faces a $15,000 fine from another agency for allowing sediment and pollutants to wash into Lake Tahoe from U.S. Highway 50 last winter.

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board proposed the fine because storm water running off the highway tested too high in the nutrients that feed algae in Lake Tahoe. Famed for its sapphire clarity, the alpine lake is estimated to be losing transparency each year. Scientists say the increasing cloudiness is caused by development-related sources of nitrogen and phosphorus, including air pollution, golf course fertilizers and runoff from roads and parking lots.

Caltrans officials had no comment Monday on the fine, which was imposed May 18, but the regional board, based in South Lake Tahoe, expects the agency to appeal the fine at a meeting in October.

The board’s staff had no choice but to impose a fine of at least $15,000 under a state law that took effect Jan. 1, said Executive Officer Harold Singer. That law requires a minimum fine of $3,000 for each violation of the state water quality permits held by tens of thousands of California businesses, agencies and city sewage treatment plants.

The new law was passed on the heels of studies showing that the state’s nine regional water boards rarely fined proven polluters.

Since the law took effect, the regional board based in San Luis Obispo has issued fines totaling $72,000 against alleged violators, including the California Men’s Colony and the city of Pismo Beach.

Other regional boards are still gathering evidence, said Craig Wilson, acting chief counsel of the State Water Resources Control Board.