BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A Bellingham farmer agreed to pay $6,750 to settle a federal complaint that he discharged animal waste into a restored creek, killing about 300 fish including threatened steelhead.
NOAA Fisheries says Harold Carbee discharged waste into Anderson Creek for at least 12 hours in May 2018.
A local resident saw the pollution in the creek that flows into the Nooksack River and called authorities.
The investigation found at least 300 dead fish, including 89 threatened steelhead smolts, coho salmon and other species.
About $9-million in restoration funding was spent on improving Anderson Creek, including installing two new bridge crossings that improve passage for threatened fish.