That law also requires licensed dairy producers to register with Ecology every two years. We've had tremendous cooperation from farmers since the new law went into effect, but some still are not complying with the registration requirement. Dairies had to register by Sept. 1, 2000. The registration provides information about the number of farms, animals and overall data on how well dairies are managing manure and contaminated runoff. When animal manure and contaminated runoff get into waterways, they can make the water unhealthy for swimming, drinking and shellfish harvesting.
Manure also harms salmon habitat.
In 1998, the first year farmers were required to register with Ecology, all but eight dairies signed up. Ecology extended both the 1998 and 2000 deadlines in an effort to get dairy farmers registered. The agency is now inspecting all of the farms to determine if they are keeping manure out of nearby streams. Farms that did not register will be among the first to be inspected. The operations that did not register are in Benton, Grant, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Stevens, Whatcom and Yakima counties.