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
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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.
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