Spokane, WA – March 30, 2004
After months of negotiation, the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) and a Portland resident who damaged more than three miles of shoreline in Asotin County have reached agreement about restoring some of the property and paying a reduced penalty. John W. Dixon, doing business as Rock’n J Properties, widened an existing cattle trail along the Grande Ronde River during the summer of 2001. Without the proper permits, he graded, blasted and drilled the ground to level the surface, damaging and removing vegetation and destroying natural rock formations along a wide swath. Dixon cleared a five- to 15-foot band of valuable shoreline property along the river for 3.25 miles.
“The damage done here was extensive and totally avoidable,” said Brian Farmer, who manages Ecology’s shoreline office in Spokane. “Mr. Dixon’s activities threatened the recreational, aesthetic and habitat values of this exceptional resource.”
According to Farmer, Dixon’s activities had the potential to cause major erosion, encourage noxious-weed growth and increase silt pollution in the Grande Ronde.
“Erosion increases storm runoff and flooding, and it reduces the capacity of the riverbed to safely store flood water,” Farmer said.
The shoreline along the Grande Ronde was designated years ago as a “shoreline of statewide significance,” meaning it meets the criteria to be protected so that all residents of the state can enjoy it. Preserving natural shoreline characteristics is a very high priority.
The state’s Shoreline Management Act and Asotin County’s shoreline master program both require a permit from the county shoreline administrator prior to developing shoreline property. Dixon did not obtain a permit.
The permit process makes sure the development is consistent with the local shoreline regulations and imposes conditions that ensure the project causes minimal damage to the environment of the shoreline area.
When Dixon’s activities were discovered in 2001, Ecology ordered him to halt the work until he had proper permits from Ecology and Asotin County. He also was ordered at that time to develop a plan by late 2002 to restore the damaged shoreline to its previous condition.
A civil penalty was not issued at the time, to give Ecology time to work with Dixon on his reclamation work. A monetary penalty is still pending and will be determined based on the success of restoration efforts.
“The penalty amount will be considerably less than if Dixon had not worked with us to restore the property,” Farmer explained. “But the shoreline can never be brought back to its original state completely, so a fine is still in order.”
Media contact: Jani Gilbert
Public Information Manager
509-329-3495
pager, 509-622-3073
Ecology Web site: Washington State Department of Ecology
Broadcast version
A Portland man has reached a settlement with the Washington state Ecology Department to restore three miles of shoreline along the Grande Ronde River in Asotin County.
John Dixon, doing business as Rock’n J Properties, widened an existing cattle trail along the Grande Ronde River in 2001. Without the proper permits, he graded, blasted and drilled the ground to level the surface, damaging and removing the vegetation along a wide swath.
In the settlement, Dixon agrees to continue restoring the shoreline as much as possible to its natural condition. A monetary fine is pending, awaiting the results of Dixon’s restoration work.
