Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeWednesday, Jul. 01, 2009
B&G Farms fined over sediment, muddy water
By the Herald staff
OLYMPIA -- B&G Farms Inc. near Royal City has been fined $9,000 by the state Department of Ecology for allowing sediment and muddy water to flow into lower Crab Creek in Grant County, the department announced Tuesday.
Mike Brown and B&G didn't follow the farm plan designed to prevent erosion, resulting in sediment and soil flowing into habitat of fall chinook and summer steelhead salmon, Ecology officials said.
Extra nutrients in the soil can harm aquatic life and the sediment buries fish spawning habitat.
B&G operates 1,453 acres on the north side of the Saddle Mountains.
Ecology received a handful of complaints last year that mud had run into the creek at the base of Smyrna Bench. Investigation showed the runoff had created a new channel, making it easier for eroded soil to travel about a mile to the creek, the department said.
Aside from the fine, B&G Farms will be required to follow its plan to avoid erosion using cover crops or residue from past crops, Ecology said.
Field borders and grass buffers also may be implemented. B&G Farms has 30 days to appeal the fine.
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