“It looked like a black snow field actually under that snow field is a running stream or a highly sensitive meadow area.” – Warden Ryan Hanson of the Department of Fish & Wildlife

Kirkwood Mountain Resort might be in deep trouble after some super sloppy parking lot management practices over last winter. An anonymous tipster let the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board know that Kirkwood was using asphalt grinding for extra traction in its parking lots (a common practice) but then blowing and plowing that asphalt infused snow into protected places that are now contaminated, violating the Federal Clean Water Act as well as the California Water Code according to CBS Sacarmento.

Since Kirkwood was made aware of the violations they have collected nearly 700 cubic yards of waste material from the affected areas (equal to 70 dump truck loads).

Kirkwood could face fines in the millions but are committed to working closely with the Water Quality Board and cleaning up the affected area as best they can. Fines will not be handed out until the completion of the investigation and clean up efforts.

To read the CBS Sacramento article go HERE

[images from CBS Sacramento]