<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0yc5qV_1CW9t5WD00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0yc5qV_1CW9t5WD00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Fencing installed on property where The Retreat and The Retreat Cottages was to be built in Broken Arrow before the construction company filed for bankruptcy. (BAS/John Dobberstein)</figcaption></figure>The Department of Environmental Quality has issued the city of Broken Arrow with notices of violations related to runoff from an abandoned housing construction site into a neighboring subdivision.The DEQ last month sent a letter to the city alleging it failed to exercise its enforcement authority for storm sewer systems, stemming from the unfinished The Retreat subdivision located on New Orleans Street south of Oliver Middle School.The city says it disagrees with the DEQ’s allegations and is writing a letter responding to the notice. “The property owner is working with ODEQ to address the violations, and the city is working with both the property owner and ODEQ,” said Lesa Jones, Operations Communications Officer for the city.The Retreat and The Retreat Cottages was a large housing project started by Ruhl Construction, Asher Homes Precision Project Management in partnership with prominent Tulsa builder Executive Homes. About 3 years ago. Executive Homes sued the other partners in the project in Tulsa County District Court for breach of contract. Ruhl filed for bankruptcy and was taken over by a bank and construction has yet to resume. The DEQ said it received a confidential complaint in February 2025 about a lack of sediment controls installed at The Retreat, located at New Orleans Street and S. Indianwood Blvd., which was causing sediment to discharge off the construction site onto surrounding property and into neighboring ponds. A week later, a DEQ specialist inspected the site and, according to the agency, “observed unmaintained control measures throughout The Retreat and evidence of sediment leaving the construction site” and running into a neighboring pond.A few weeks later, the DEQ received a second confidential complaint stating The Retreat was cleared of most trees and understory prior to construction of homes.“As a result, there was significant runoff of sediment flowing into the creek and into the neighboring pond. The pond was filled with sediment due to unchecked berms throughout The Retreat,” the DEQ said. In October 2025, DEQ received a third anonymous complaint stating The Retreat development was allowing sediment to discharge off the construction site and onto surrounding property, including ponds in the area, and silting them in. The complaint further stated that there were silt fences down in areas.The same DEQ specialist again inspected the site and documented 9 violations of an OKR10 General Permit (“OKR10 Permit”). The inspector said it appeared the developer cut a road through the site, abandoned construction and failed to install adequate control measures to handle the stormwater runoff.In January DEQ inspected The Retreat and noted 10 violations of the OKR10 Permit. Representatives from DEQ, the city, and the HOA for the neighboring Lakes at Rabbit Run addition met that month to observe the sedimentation of the Association’s detention pond. “The amount of sediment that breached The Retreat’s property line and entered the Association’s detention pond was significant,” the DEQ’s letter stated. “Based on complaints received by DEQ, sediment has been discharging from The Retreat and onto the neighboring property since at least February 18, 2025.”The DEQ argued the city failed to effectively “prevent illicit discharge and use appropriate enforcement procedure and actions,” including requiring erosion and sediment controls and sanctions to ensure compliance. The city must also enforce procedures for site inspection and enforcement of control measures and escalate action for “recalcitrant or repeat offenders.“Sites that have been identified as a threat to water quality require the minimum frequency of construction site inspections, “once per month. Your program must maintain pre-development runoff conditions and ensure that controls are in place that would prevent or minimize water quality impacts.”</div></body>

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The Department of Environmental Quality has issued the city of Broken Arrow with notices of violations related to runoff from an abandoned housing construction site into a neighboring subdivision. The DEQ last month sent a letter to the city alleging it failed to exercise its enforcement authority for storm sewer...

DEQ cites Broken Arrow for development site runoff, city to respond

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The Department of Environmental Quality has issued the city of Broken Arrow with notices of violations related to runoff from an abandoned housing construc

DEQ cites Broken Arrow for development site runoff, city to respond

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