SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15. 2026 – The nonprofit groups Environment California and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (“CSPA”) filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday against Granite Rock Company (commonly known as “Graniterock”), alleging the company violated the federal Clean Water Act for more than 1,000 days. The nonprofits charge that, for years, the company has routinely discharged illegal levels of harmful pollutants — including dissolved solids, aluminum, iron and molybdenum — into the Pajaro River at its A.R. Wilson Quarry, a granite mining and processing facility in Aromas. The groups say that even after the state imposed “mandatory minimum” financial penalties upon Graniterock for previous infractions, the violations continue unabated.

In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against Watsonville's Graniterock, development continuing in downtown Santa Cruz and plenty more names, numbers and dates to know.

Graniterock quarry is one of the largest in the Western United States, company says it is a good environmental steward

In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against Watsonville's Graniterock, development continuing in downtown Santa Cruz and plenty mo...

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15. 2026 – The nonprofit groups Environment California and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (“CSPA”) filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday against Granite Rock Company (commonly known as “Graniterock”), alleging the company violated the federal Clean Water Act for more than 1,000 days. The nonprofits charge that, for years, the company has routinely discharged illegal levels of harmful pollutants — including dissolved solids, aluminum, iron and molybdenum — into the Pajaro River at its A.R. Wilson Quarry, a granite mining and processing facility in Aromas. The groups say that even after the state imposed “mandatory minimum” financial penalties upon Graniterock for previous infractions, the violations continue unabated.

Lea este artículo en español aquí. Claiming harm to animals, ecosystems, and people, two California environmental nonprofits sued Graniterock, one of San Benito County’s largest employers, on April 15 for allegedly polluting the Pajaro River. Environment California and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance claim that Graniterock has discharged harmful pollutants such as aluminum, iron, and molybdenum at levels exceeding what its permit allows into the Pajaro River from the A.R. Wilson Quarry in Aromas. The suit was filed in the federal court for the Northern District of California. “Graniterock habitually violates its Clean Water Act permit, pays a trivial penalty and then continues polluting the Pajaro River as usual,” Director of Environment California Laura Deehan said in a news release. “Graniterock poses a risk to some of California’s most vulnerable species when it chooses to pay to pollute instead of addressing the systemic issues causing the pollution.” The company rejects those allegations. “Graniterock has always been committed to being a good steward of our lands,” Graniterock Director of Communications Shanna Crigger told BenitoLink, adding that the company will fight the arguments in court. The plaintiffs argue that Graniterock collects stormwater and wastewater containing pollutants at a pond known as Quarry...

Santa Cruz County headlines from Lookout for the morning of Wednesday, April 22.

Graniterock is constructing an underground water freeway in Morgan Hill to protect the community from floods. The $129 million project includes widening Llagas Creek and building a massive box culvert. Over 1,000 homes, 500 businesses and agricultural land will benefit. The complex construction involves heavy equipment and high coordination....

At the eastern end of the ongoing San Benito Route 156 Project that will be completed in fall 2025, Graniterock completed the building of the SR 156/25 Turbo Roundabout Project. Crews began work on this project in San Benito County in June 2022. "This was…

Graniterock energy projects: cost-cutting and sustainable