Orchardist fined $73,530 for illegal irrigation during drought

A Columbia County orchardist is being fined $73,530 for illegally irrigating a 100-acre apple and pear orchard after being ordered to stop during Washington’s historic drought, state officials said.

The Washington Department of Ecology required 67 irrigators to stop irrigating from the Touchet River in July and August to save water for farmers with more senior water rights and threatened steelhead runs.

Warren Orchards continued to irrigate at night over a period of 44 days, using more than 90 acre-feet of water from the river in southeast Washington, according to the agency.

State employees saw the orchard’s owner and operator, Robert Warren, illegally irrigating his orchard at night on Aug. 18 after having received the cease order. A second order was issued Aug. 22, when Warren was required to disconnect power to his irrigation pumps and provide water meter data to the Department of Ecology.

State officials said Warren’s illegal irrigation took water away from other growers who had rights to the water, and reduced the flow of the Touchet River for nearly 50 miles, harming critical steelhead habitat.

Warren can appeal the penalty and order to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.