Case Explained: EPA defends Washington rancher accused of environmental crime – Legal Perspective

EPA defends Washington rancher accused of environmental crime

Published 7:36 am Friday, January 23, 2026

Northwest director says state targeting cattle ranching

The Environmental Protection Agency’s regional director criticized state regulators for fining rancher Wade King for digging watering holes for cattle in arid Central Washington.

Ecology alleges King damaged wetlands, but EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon defended King in a letter to Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller and state Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove.

Pokon said she was concerned the state was targeting cattle ranchers. “The EPA recognizes that stock watering ponds are important for supporting livestock operations,” Poken stated.

“The state of Washington appears to be impeding cattle farmers’ ability to earn a livelihood and participate in an important economic activity critical to supplying the nation’s food supply,” the letter reads.

Pokon’s letter follows critical comments from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in December. She admonished Ecology and the Department of Natural Resources to stop its “war on agriculture.”

Ecology is acting within its authority under state law, Sixkiller said in a statement. The department documented damages to state-protected wetlands that the ranch refused to acknowledge or correct, he said.

Ecology tries to work with landowners before taking legal action, Sixkiller said. “Enforcement action is never taken lightly,” he said.

After Ecology began investigating the ranch, DNR ended grazing leases the ranch had held for decades. DNR spokesman Michael Kelly said the department didn’t have a comment on Pokon’s letter.

Ranch challenging state actions

Ecology fined the King Ranch $267,540 in 2023 for digging into 23 landlocked wetlands in Grant and Douglas counties. Ecology said the rare alkali wetlands provided habitat for migrating birds. 

The department also ordered King to restore 18 wetlands on state land leased by the ranch. A consultant estimates restoration will cost $3.7 million. Helicopters will have to airlift heavy equipment, irrigation equipment and water to remote ponds.

King said he was maintaining the stock water ponds, like his father and others before him. He said in a court statement that it was “shocking and humiliating” to be branded a criminal.

The King Ranch case has attracted attention throughout the West. R-CALF issued a statement Jan. 22 praising the EPA for defending King. “We must bring an end to regulatory lawfare that threatens private property rights, food security and the survival of independent producers,” R-CALF property rights chairman Shad Sullivan said.

The ranch appealed Ecology’s fine to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Ecology has not yet filed a response to the appeal.

The Kings are suing DNR in federal and state courts to restore the leases. The ranch claims DNR knuckled under to Ecology.