Washington Supreme Court irrigation case: Farmer contests $618,000 irrigation penalties

Photo credit: Mia Ring/Pacific Legal Foundation A Washington farmer who returned to his family’s farm in 1984 is challenging a long-running dispute with the state Department of Ecology after penalties over irrigation threatened the future of his agricultural business. Ron Fodé and his wife, Robin, say the agency refused to help them find a lawful way to irrigate their crops before imposing penalties that originally totalled $618,000. The case has reached the Washington Supreme Court, which heard arguments on October 1, 2026. At its centre is a question about whether the state agency followed a law requiring it to provide technical assistance to water users before moving to penalties.As reported by The Spokesman-Review, Ron and Robin Fodé wrote that the dispute had nearly destroyed their business. The couple said they once farmed 4,000 acres of owned and leased land but now lease just 290 acres. According to the Pacific Legal Foundation, the public-interest legal organisation representing Ron Fodé, the case also raises questions about whether government agencies can enforce unpublished internal policies that affect people’s legal rights.How the dispute beganRon Fodé grew up on the f...