Meeting today in Colfax: Ranchers to react to DOE notices

Dennis and Jan Moore own four saddle horses that graze on their 40 acres of land near Hay.

Earlier this fall, the state Department of Ecology sent them a letter saying that those four horses have the potential to pollute Big Alkali Creek that runs through part of their property. The DOE also listed cattle which they didn’t own.

“We are considered one of the worst violators of Big Alkali Creek,” Dennis Moore said.

“They’re saying that our livestock pollution could eventually make it to the Snake,” Moore said.

After Moore requested and eventually received DOE information about the listed violations, they discovered two of the three parcels DOE had listed were not their land. The cattle which had been listed were on parcels they didn’t own.

Today (Thursday), DOE representatives will discuss recently sent letters regarding violations and the criteria used to compile the violation list.

According to DOE records, because of livestock feeding and grazing, there is an absence of woody riparian vegetation, bare ground and exposed soil, contaminated runoff, livestock access to surface water, livestock paths and trails in riparian area, overgrazing of grasses, slumping streambanks and erosion on Moore’s land.

Moore also said that when they received a list of violators from DOE, they discovered their neighbors are listed with a score.

The Moores were scored highest.

Another recipient of one of the DOE letters said DOE mentions the potential of a fine up to $10,000 per day.

Moore said he requested the list through the Freedom of Information Act from officials in Spokane.

He requested the information give specific locations of the sites. The DOE list gives locations by longitude and latitude, owners of the property and the scores.

“They had us down for multiple sites,” he said. “We saw photos of our horses and notes about out property.”

“DOE wants to come on our property,” Moore added. “They have several financial programs to pay for fencing off any water and do all riparian work. They want a 70-foot setback, 35 feet on each side of the creek. We’re choosing to work with the conservation district.”

Moore said he believes the DOE is concerned about pollutants reaching the Snake River, but no officials have stated that.

Moore said that in 2002 to 2003, state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials studied Big Alkali, putting in fish traps to find any salmon or steelhead in the creek. Four miles from the mouth of the creek is a 10- to 15-foot high rock waterfall. WDFW officials found no sign of steelhead or salmon movement above the falls, he said.

Moore said DOE’s suggested alternative for watering their horses is to dig a well and install a water trough to DOE specifications.

“The Big Alkali Watershed is so diversified that every property is different from the other,” Moore said. “The way we raise wheat here is very different from the way they raise wheat up in Tekoa. “

“I realize they’re doing their jobs and we’re not denying the importance of the DOE, but they have to meld common sense and respect for the property owners. They’re counting on peoples’ complacency and intimidation and that doesn’t work in Whitman County,” Moore said.

Nancy Hoobler, conservation district natural resource coordinator, said Monday afternoon that the conservation district invited DOE officials to the board meeting.

Hoobler said after the conservation board discovered DOE had been doing tests last spring, the board decided they wanted to talk with DOE officials.

Kim Weerts, president of the Whitman County Cattlemen’s Association, said she believes the meeting is being called by the conservation district “basically at the request of DOE.”

“They sent letters to some producers and some producers felt threatened and some were confused and didn’t know what to do,” she said.

“DOE has increasingly got some criticism,” she said. “DOE has done a watershed assessment. Their goal is going around to conservation districts to give presentations on assessments.

“There’s a lot of concern,” Weerts said.

She said 12 people in each conservation district received letters from DOE.

“House Bill 1113 requires DOE to post the science they use when going through assessments. They are not holding up to that bill,” Weerts contended.

She said a main issue is that instead of using scientific evidence, DOE has a list of nine indicators for potential polluters. Each indicator has points for certain criteria including bare land and livestock in or by water, indicators DOE sees as signs of possible pollution.

“As producers, we have the right to get answers to our questions,” she said.

The board meeting begins at 1 p.m. in the county’s Public Service Building in Colfax. The DOE discussion will follow at 3 p.m.