Before the new law, Ecology inspected farms primarily in response to complaints. Unfortunately, the farms where we are finding problems pose very significant threats to public health and fish and shellfish habitat. Dairy pollution is a serious problem. In Washington's streams with pollution problems, some agricultural practices, including dairies, account for the majority of the water pollution. When animal manure and contaminated runoff get into surface and ground waters, it can make the water unhealthy for swimming, drinking and shellfish harvesting.
Manure also degrades salmon habitat.