Sequim: State to inspect Dungeness farms

PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

SEQUIM, WA -- State officials will be checking up on Dungeness Valley farmers in the coming weeks to make sure they are keeping livestock away from waterways.

State Department of Ecology officials will begin inspecting 61 farms in the valley as a precursor to the creation of a proposed clean water district.

Ecology officials say the inspections are part of an effort to reduce fecal coliform in the Sequim Bay watershed -- including the Dungeness River and its tributaries. Fecal coliform pollution is often caused by animal waste.

According to state Water Quality Inspector Liz Rozmyn, the visits begin April 23.

Rozmyn notified farmers of the looming inspections through a letter last week.  The letter coincides with Clallam County commissioners setting a May 8 public hearing date for the proposed Dungeness-Sequim Bay Watershed Clean Water District.

Sanctions Possible

Rozmyn said farmers could face sanctions if their livestock has direct access to the Dungeness River or its tributaries.  However, she said most landowners would only be required to contact the Clallam Conservation District for assistance in correcting problems.

"Enforcement is an option, however, if circumstances warrant," Ecology water-quality manager Mark Bentley added.  He did not comment on what fines or penalties farmers could face.

Bentley said inspectors will be "focusing on non-dairy farms that have livestock such as heifers, cattle, horses, hogs, llamas and poultry."

Following reports of high fecal coliform contamination in Sequim Bay last April, a state law was passed requiring county officials to set up a shellfish protection district within 180 days of the elimination of commercial harvesting.

Shellfishing closed

County environmental health officials closed the bay to commercial shellfish harvesting earlier this month, even though scientists are not sure where the pollution originates.

County officials want to expand the required shellfish protection district into a "clean water district".

The district, if approved, would include Strait of Juan de Fuca tributaries from Bagley Creek east to the Sequim Bay watershed.  Other bodies of water within the district are the Dungeness and Graywolf rivers, and McDonald, Matriotti, Meadowbrook, Cooper, Cassalery, Gierin, Bell, Johnson, Dean and Jimmy-comelately creeks.

County officials hope a larger district will help deal with nitrate pollution in the water supply.  Nitrate can cause birth defects, said Andy Brastad, the county's Natural Resources Manager.

Commissioner Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, said the county will not levy extra taxes on landowners to pay for education and clean-up measured required by Ecology.

from Peninsula Daily News

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. [Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml]