WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Illegal water usage has led to fines against a Whatcom County farm.

The Washington State Department of Ecology says that it has issued a $20,000 fine against RAN General Partnership and its owner Rick Alamwala.

Ecology learned about Alamwala’s plans to irrigate 40 acres of blueberries west of Sumas in early 2022 and informed him that he didn’t have water rights for the property. He was sent a cease-and-desist notice later that year.

In the summers of 2023 and 2024, Alamwala irrigated the property without any legal right to do so. He was initially fined $12,000 for violating water rights usage in 2023.

Ecology estimates that over 17 million gallons of water was used by Alamwala each year to irrigate the blueberries.