CULLMAN, Ala. – Vista Lago’s development team says it is evaluating alternatives to its permitted wastewater-discharge plan after hearing concerns from residents, property owners, community leaders and businesses around Smith Lake.
The announcement does not identify a selected alternative or say that Vista Lago’s existing Alabama Department of Environmental Management permit has been withdrawn or modified.
Vista Lago Lead Developer Nathan Stoops announced the review in an Aug. 17 statement.
“We have heard the concerns of residents, property owners, community leaders, and businesses regarding Vista Lago’s wastewater discharge permit, and we have decided to explore alternative discharge options similar to existing discharge operations on Smith Lake,” Stoops said.
The announcement is the first public indication that the development team is considering whether to change the wastewater pathway authorized by ADEM. It does not amount to a final redesign, however, and Stoops did not identify where treated wastewater would go under an alternative plan.
“While our wastewater treatment plant was always designed to protect the lake, sometimes being a good partner means going a step further to address community concerns,” Stoops said.
Current permit status
ADEM issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit AL0084516 to Maverick Construction LLC on May 27. The permit became effective June 1 and expires May 31, 2031.
It identifies Ryan Creek (Smith Lake) as the receiving water and authorizes the discharge of treated domestic wastewater from a planned treatment plant serving Vista Lago.
The system has a design capacity of 60,000 gallons per day and is intended to serve an estimated population of 300. That figure represents the plant’s planned capacity. It does not mean the development is currently discharging 60,000 gallons into Smith Lake each day.
ADEM describes the permit as the first NPDES permit to directly discharge into Lewis Smith Lake. The permit authorizes treated wastewater, not the routine discharge of untreated sewage.
Stoops’ statement does not address whether Maverick Construction has asked ADEM to modify or terminate the permit. The announcement alone does not change the authorization already issued by the agency. The regulatory steps required will depend on which alternative, if any, Vista Lago selects.
What could an alternative look like?
Stoops said the team is considering options “similar to existing discharge operations on Smith Lake.”
The statement does not identify which existing operation or wastewater-management method Stoops was referencing.
In the second installment of The Tribune’s “Beneath the Surface” series, ADEM identified four wastewater facilities operating within the Lewis Smith Lake drainage area. The agency said none directly discharge into the lake.
Good Hope’s treatment plant discharges treated wastewater into Bavar Creek. Cold Springs School historically discharged into an unnamed tributary to Big Branch. Double Springs discharges treated wastewater into Clear Creek, while Addison uses land application.
Those systems demonstrate several possible wastewater pathways, but none is equivalent to the direct lake discharge ADEM identifies in Vista Lago’s current permit.
Vista Lago’s original permit application considered land application, connection to an existing publicly owned treatment system, relocation of the discharge, reuse or recycling, onsite or subsurface disposal and other treatment technologies.
The applicant ultimately selected an extended-aeration treatment plant and listed “Land not available” in its discussion of land application.
The new statement does not say whether Vista Lago is reconsidering one of those previously evaluated options or studying an entirely different plan.
Stoops thanked State Rep. Cindy Myrex and local business leaders for advocating for the Smith Lake community. Myrex previously said she had appealed on multiple levels for the developers to consider an alternative.
“We will keep the community informed as this process moves forward and will share more information with the public in the coming weeks,” Stoops said.
SLEPC maintains opposition
The Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee responded by reiterating its opposition to any direct discharge into Smith Lake, regardless of the treatment involved.
“SLEPC opposes the direct discharge of any wastewater or effluent” into Smith Lake, the organization said, whether it is treated or untreated.
SLEPC President Theresa Johanson said alternative wastewater-management methods are available that would avoid direct discharge.
“SLEPC requests that Vista Lago pursue these alternatives to protect the water quality and environmental integrity of Smith Lake,” the organization stated.
SLEPC also called on ADEM, Vista Lago and elected officials to hold a public meeting concerning the wastewater plan.
The committee said it “resolutely supports efforts to remove Vista Lago’s and any other NPDES permit threats to Smith Lake.”
SLEPC’s position is broader than the question of whether Vista Lago could comply with the pollutant limits contained in its permit. The organization opposes establishing any permitted direct effluent discharge into the lake.
Questions that remain
Vista Lago’s announcement potentially changes the direction of the wastewater discussion, but several questions remain unanswered:
- Which alternative systems or discharge locations are being evaluated?
- Will the selected plan eliminate a direct discharge into Smith Lake?
- Will Maverick Construction ask ADEM to modify, replace or terminate Permit AL0084516?
- Which existing wastewater operation did Stoops reference in his statement?
- What engineering, environmental and financial evaluations will be conducted?
- Will Vista Lago participate in the public meeting requested by SLEPC?
- When will the development team announce a final decision?
The current public record therefore establishes three separate points:
- ADEM has issued an effective permit authorizing treated domestic wastewater discharge to Ryan Creek (Smith Lake)
- Vista Lago is now exploring alternatives to that plan
- and SLEPC continues to seek the elimination of any direct wastewater or effluent discharge into the lake.
The significance of Vista Lago’s announcement will depend on the alternative ultimately selected and whether that decision results in a formal change to the ADEM permit.
Read The Tribune’s “Beneath the surface” series:
- Part 1: ADEM says Vista Lago permit is first direct NPDES discharge to Smith Lake — www.cullmantribune.com/2026/08/11/beneath-the-surface-part-1-adem-says-vista-lago-permit-is-first-direct-npdes-discharge-to-smith-lake
- Part 2: 4 wastewater permits operate in Smith Lake watershed, but none discharge directly to lake — www.cullmantribune.com/2026/08/13/beneath-the-surface-part-2-4-wastewater-permits-operate-in-smith-lake-watershed-but-none-discharge-directly-to-lake
- Part 3: What the claims about Vista Lago get right, wrong and leave unanswered — www.cullmantribune.com/2026/08/15/beneath-the-surface-part-3-what-the-claims-about-vista-lago-get-right-wrong-and-leave-unanswered
