The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Curry County $9,609 for discharging sediment and debris from its stormwater lines into the Port of Brookings Harbor. The violations took place in August 2018 when the county’s road department flushed water through stormwater lines on Lower Harbor Road causing trapped sediments and debris to be released into the harbor on the Chetco River. DEQ conducted an inspection on Aug. 28, and found sediment-laden water flowing from a culvert and into the Chetco River. DEQ issued the penalty because causing pollution to waters of the state is a violation of Oregon environmental law. The introduction of debris and sediment into surface waters can harm fish and other aquatic life by lowering the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic life need. Such sediment can also affect beneficial uses such as recreation. The Chetco River provides important habitat for a variety of fish and aquatic life. The river is also designated critical habitat for Coho salmon, which is listed as threated under the federal Endangered Species Act. Curry County has until Nov. 28 to appeal the fine.
