Franklin County Farm Fined for Illegal Water Use

(Franklin County, WA) -- The Washington Department of Ecology is fining a Franklin County farm $304,000 for illegally using Snake River water for irrigation. The department says Frank Tiegs tapped into McNary Pool to irrigate 250 acres last summer. Officials say it was one of the driest and warmest years on record for Washington with stream flows and fish passage already compromised.

Tiegs' representatives acknowledged the irrigation error and have committed to find a legal water supply for the 2022 irrigation season. He has 30 days to appeal the fine.