Warren Orchards Settles with Ecology Dept.

DAYTON – A recent settlement with Warren Orchards will help make major environmental improvements to the Touchet River near Dayton, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Ecology. The department says the river provides critical habitat for threatened steelhead.

Warren Orchards was fined by Ecology for illegally watering their 100-acre apple and pear orchard along the river, after being ordered to stop irrigating during the state’s historic drought in 2015.

As part of the settlement, Warrens agreed to take 20 acres of orchard out of production and place them into a conservation easement with the Blue Mountain Land Trust. The easement will prohibit future development, but may allow limited agricultural use.

The land is slated for a habitat restoration and enhancement project by the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Early designs for the project include the addition of boulders, large wood stumps, and logs to help influence the river’s flow and create more beneficial fish habitat. Plans also call for the addition of streamside plants, such as native trees and grasses, to help reduce flood risks downstream and improve water temperatures by providing shade.

The Warrens appealed the original $73,530 fine to the Pollution Control Hearings Board before entering into settlement discussions with Ecology.

According to the press release, the agreement allows the land trust to compensate the Warrens for the conservation easement, but requires a $20,000 reduction in payment from the appraised value of the land.

As long as the terms of the settlement are met, the Warrens will pay $30,000 and Ecology will excuse the remainder of the fine after two years, the release said.

The Pollution Control Hearings Board dismissed the Warrens’ original appeal of the fine and approved the settlement on Dec. 16.