This case primarily involves violations of the Clean Water Act Section 402 NPDES storm water permitting requirement for discharges associated with construction activity, but also includes some violations of the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting requirement for discharges of dredged and/or fill material. The violations occurred at a large tract in New Hanover County, North Carolina, where the defendants constructed an extensive ditch network in wetlands. The ditch construction involved land disturbance of more than five acres and therefore was subject to the NPDES permitting requirement for stormwater associated with construction activity. The defendants failed to obtain the necessary permit and sediment was discharged into and through the ditch network, in jurisdictional wetlands and into tributaries of Island Creek. In addition, some discharges of dredged and/or fill material were made into wetlands at the Site in connection with ditch construction. The Consent Decree (1) requires payment of a $10,000 penalty, (2) requires adoption of a Restrictive Covenant protecting a 100 acre parcel of land, and (3) prohibits the taking of any action that will alter existing hydrological characteristics at or convert to uplands, any wetlands at the Site (including wetlands beyond the 100 acre preservation area) without a Section 404 permit.