DEQ Fines Owners of Abandoned South Coast Fish Hatchery, July 17

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has fined the owners of an abandoned South Coast hatchery $5,843 claiming that it is falling apart and sliding into the Pistol River of Curry Co.  According to a news release from the DEQ, the hatchery, owned by William V. Crook and family, hasn’t been used for at least 10 years.  “Since 2011, concrete structures called ‘races’ that were placed on the banks of the Pistol River to raise salmon and trout have collapsed sending concrete, metal, PVC pipe and wood into the river.  The family removed two of the races.  Another warning was issued in Dec. 2012, but the Crooks reportedly failed to take action.  If the structures that fell into the river are removed by July 18, 2014, the DEQ will recalculate and reduce the penalty.