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10 CapitalPress.com August 18, 2017 Washington Farm, state settle irrigation dispute WDFW keeps close By DON JENKINS Capital Press A Western Washington blueberry farm has agreed to plant trees and place logs and limbs in a creek and slough to settle an accusation that it il- legally irrigated 200 acres in 2015. The state Department of Ecology on Aug. 10 an- nounced the deal with U.S. Golden Eagle Farms in Skagit County. The farm will do the work, and Ecology will sus- pend a $16,000 fine, accord- ing to the agreement. Golden Eagle already had agreed last year to do some of the fish habitat restoration to settle a fine issued by the state Department of Natural Resources for illegally cutting down trees on the farm. Ecology’s Northwest re- gional director Tom Buroker said the agency preferred that the farm do more habitat res- Courtesy of Washington Department of Ecology A picture taken in 2015 shows a blueberry field at U.S. Golden Eagle Farms in Skagit County, Wash. According to an allegation by the Washington Department of Ecology, the farm exceeded its water right by irrigating too many acres. The farm and Ecology have settled the allegation, with the farm admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to fund habitat restoration. toration to paying a fine into the general fund. “All the way around, we think it’s a good deal,” he said. “As far as Ecology is concerned, we’re getting $16,000 worth of habitat res- toration out of the penalty.” Ecology levied the fine in early 2016, alleging the farm on Cockerham Island had exceeded its water right. At the time, Ecology said the farm was allowed to water 250 acres, but it irrigated 450 acres. Since then, the farm has obtained water rights to irri- gate 743 acres of blueberries. Golden Eagle appealed Ecology’s fine to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. The agreement settles the appeal, with the farm admitting no wrongdoing. Efforts to reach the farm’s attorney or an official through the Golden Eagle’s parent company, Aquilini Investment Group in Vancouver, British Columbia, were unsuccessful, DNR fined Golden Eagle $24,000 in 2014 for cutting down trees to clear 7 acres for blueberries. The trees were in an area where the Skagit River could change its course and flow through, according to DNR. In the settlement with DNR, the company paid an $8,000 fine and agreed to re- plant the area and put the logs and limbs in the creek and slough. According to the set- tlement with Ecology, Golden Eagle now must spend at least $32,000 on the work. watch on wolf pack By DON JENKINS Capital Press Washington wildlife man- agers are watching to see whether the Smackout wolf- pack in Stevens County attacks more cattle before deciding whether to kill more wolves, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said. WDFW killed two wolves before pausing July 30. The department has not verified any new depredations since then. “The department may consider initiating another incremental lethal-removal period directed at the Smack- out pack, but only if WDFW finds evidence of a new dep- redation after the last remov- al period ended,” according to the department’s weekly update. WDFW began targeting the pack July 20 after the fourth depredation in the past 10 months, meeting the threshold for the department to cull a pack. Wildlife man- agers confirmed a fifth depre- dation July 22. Following a new wolf-con- trol policy, WDFW targeted wolves sooner than in previous years, hoping shooting two wolves will deter the rest of the pack. Previously, WDFW waited longer to intervene, but with initial plans to shoot several wolves. WDFW shot seven wolves in the Profanity Peak pack last year. WDFW has reported that the five cattle attacked by the Smackout pack since Sept. 21 belonged to three different ranchers. In the most recent depre- dation, wolves injured a calf on a private, 40-acre fenced pasture. The calf was bitten in several places by wolves, according to WDFW investi- gators. The other four depreda- tions — three in September and one in July — occurred on federal grazing land, ac- cording to WDFW. WDFW has not released further details about the op- eration, holding back details such as how the wolves were killed and their sexes and ages. WDFW’s withholding of information has upset con- servation groups, including some with representatives on the department’s Wolf Advi- sory Group. The department says it’s at- tempting to tamp down public fury over shooting wolves and shield WDFW officials and ranchers from harassment. The department also has been slow to release information about wolves killed in other ways, such as by being hit by vehicles. Spokane horse has West Nile virus By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press 33-1\#6 A horse near Spokane is the first reported victim of West Nile virus in Washington state this year, officials say. The Animal Disease Diag- nostic Laboratory at Washing- ton State University reported the positive test results for the 10-year-old quarter horse from Four Lakes, Wash., according to the state Department of Ag- riculture. The horse was not vacci- nated for the disease. It is re- ported to have coordination problems with its rear legs and muscle tremors, but is improv- ing, according to the depart- ment. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. The disease sickens people, horses, birds and other animals, but does not spread directly from hors- es to people or other animals. It’s unknown whether the horse was infected at home or while traveling, said Mike Louisell, spokesman for the department. The disease is fatal to hors- es in about one-third of the cases in which clinical signs appear. Most horses that are infected do not become ill and show no symptoms. Horses that do become ill can display a loss of coordination and ap- petite along with confusion, fever, stiffness and muscle weakness, particularly in their hindquarters. Last year, WSDA con- firmed 27 equine West Nile virus cases. Of those, sev- en horses died or were eu- thanized. Benton, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okan- ogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties all reported cases. Spokane had the most, with eight cases. More than 30 cases have been reported in some years, Louisell said. The state recommends vac- cinating horses in the spring or obtaining an annual booster shot. Horse owners can reduce mosquito populations and possible breeding areas by re- moving stagnant water sourc- es and keeping horses inside during insect feeding times, early morning and in the eve- ning. They can also consider equine-approved mosquito re- pellent, place fans inside barns to maintain air movement and avoid leaving incandescent bulbs on at night, as they at- tract mosquitoes. “This is one of those risks that is very well-tracked,” he said. Veterinarians who learn of potential West Nile virus cas- es in horses or other animals should contact the state vet- erinarian’s office at 360-902- 1878. 33-2/#6
