A Washington raspberry farmer has appealed fines totaling $102,000 after he was accused of illegally watering his crops and failing to log his water use.
The Washington State Department of Ecology fined Sandhu, doing business as Crystalview Raspberry Farm, on Dec.16, for separate violations on two farms he operates in Whatcom County, which is located in Western Washington along the Canadian border.
The first fine was $90,000 for illegally irrigating a 220-acre raspberry farm for at least two years, Ecology said, adding that Sandhu didn’t have approved water rights for most of the property as he was only approved for 35 acres.
The second fine was for $12,000 and came from his lack of recording water use for the farm which is a requirement that was part of a settlement for previous illegal water use, according to Ecology.
source: growingproduce.com
