Carver County paid $16,233 for stormwater permit violations that occurred during a construction project in 2025, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation. Carver County Public Works staff failed to prevent sediment-laden stormwater from entering a stream at the construction site in Chaska and did not provide soil stabilization or sediment controls when needed. Carver County submitted an incomplete stormwater pollution prevention plan and failed to accurately report inspection findings.
Sediment pollution can impair water quality and cause harm to wildlife and the environment.
Carver County took the following corrective actions:
- ceased all discharges into the stream running through the construction site
- stabilized exposed soil
- installed sediment controls
- corrected its stormwater pollution prevention plan
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.