04/11/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Yelm Farm Accuses Thurston County and State Regulators of Targeted Enforcement, Raises Legal, Constitutional, and Due Process Concerns
YELM, WA — April 10, 2026 — Deschutes Valley Farms is publicly challenging an allegation that it violated Washington State water quality standards, calling the claim unsupported by evidence and raising concerns about enforcement practices by Thurston County and the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The allegation involves turbidity—commonly referred to as sediment or “muddy water”—in a local drainage/irrigation system on the farm. Under WAC 173-201A (Washington State water quality standards), a violation requires documented baseline conditions, measurable exceedance, and a direct, provable connection to a specific source.
According to the farm, none of those elements have been established.
«“They’re trying to regulate what farming looks like instead of what the law actually requires.”
— Deschutes Valley Farms»
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Dispute Over Evidence and Investigation
Deschutes Valley Farms states that no upstream baseline measurements, no quantified exceedance, and no defensible source attribution have been provided to support the allegation.
The farm contends that visual observations or assumptions about water appearance cannot substitute for the numeric and comparative standards required under Washington law.
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Concerns About Enforcement Practices
The farm asserts that enforcement efforts have focused on a single agricultural operation despite the presence of multiple potential sediment sources in the surrounding watershed, including road runoff, neighboring properties, forestry activity, and natural stormwater conditions.
«“In a region like this, you cannot isolate one property without evaluating the entire watershed,” the farm stated.»
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Growing Concerns Across Washington Farms
Deschutes Valley Farms states that concerns over enforcement practices are not isolated to Thurston County, but are being raised by agricultural operators in multiple regions across Washington State, including areas such as Moses Lake, Deer Park, and Soap Lake.
According to the farm, these concerns center around enforcement actions that move forward without clear baseline data, measurable exceedance, or definitive source attribution.
«“We’re hearing the same concerns from farmers across the state,” the farm stated. “When enforcement moves forward without solid data, it stops being about protecting water and starts becoming a pattern of pressure.”»
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Constitutional and Due Process Concerns
Deschutes Valley Farms is raising serious concerns that the current enforcement approach implicates fundamental constitutional protections, including due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
The farm notes that these actions are being pursued through administrative processes that limit access to traditional judicial review and jury trial protections, raising significant concerns about fairness and impartiality.
«“When agencies can investigate, accuse, and effectively control the outcome within the same system—without meaningful access to a jury—it raises serious concerns about whether property owners are receiving full constitutional protections,” the farm stated.»
The farm is evaluating all available remedies, including potential civil rights claims under federal law.
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Legal and Due Process Considerations
Deschutes Valley Farms is also raising concerns about due process and fairness in administrative enforcement proceedings. The farm notes that these matters are handled through agency processes that limit traditional court access, raising questions about procedural protections for property owners.
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Broader Impact on Rural Landowners
The farm warns that the implications of this case extend beyond a single operation.
«“If enforcement moves forward without evidence, it sets a precedent where appearance replaces proof—and that affects every rural landowner,” the farm stated.»
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Call for Transparency
Deschutes Valley Farms is requesting full disclosure of all data, sampling methods, and investigative records related to the allegation and is calling for enforcement actions to adhere strictly to established legal and scientific standards.
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About Deschutes Valley Farms
Deschutes Valley Farms is a locally owned agricultural operation in the Yelm area committed to responsible land stewardship, sustainable practices, and the protection of rural livelihoods.
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Media Contact:
Chuck Rogers
Dirt outlaw journal
360-507-7015
"[email protected]
