The chief of Whatcom County Fire District No. 18 faces an Aug. 17 court date on misdemeanor charges stemming from his excavation of the Lake Whatcom shoreline a month ago.

George Henderson will be cited by summons on two counts of unlawful hydraulic project activities, and a violation of the state’s Shoreline Management Program. At his first appearance in Whatcom County District Court, he will be expected to enter a plea.

The criminal offenses carry maximum penalties that include fines of as much as $10,000 and jail time of up to a year.

Officials with the Washington Department of Ecology and Department of Fish and Wildlife say Henderson did the work near District 18’s South Bay Drive fire station without obtaining the required permits, and the excavation sent dirt into the lake and muddied its water.

The Whatcom County Department of Planning and Development Services already has fined the district $2,900 for doing the work without county permits.

Ecology officials have said they, too, could levy fines in the case. The department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for an update on the matter.

Henderson has said he did the work to create a helicopter landing area for use in emergencies.

The district has done some remedial work at the site while hiring a consultant to develop an environmental restoration plan.