An 85-year-old farmer in rural Washington faces the potential loss of his family’s 160-acre property after ignoring state notices about water use violations, leading to fines that now total $121,000 by mid-2025.
Robert Greiff’s decision not to open letters from the Washington Department of Ecology set off a chain of escalating penalties. What began as smaller fines of $6,000 and $15,000 culminated in a $100,000 penalty in September 2025. These sanctions not only strained his finances but also weighed heavily on his health and the farm’s survival, purchased by his father in 1939.
Mounting Regulatory Pressure
The Department of Ecology’s actions intensified between 2019 and 2022, shifting focus from water volume to precise application locations. In June 2023, officials issued a cease-and-desist order. Greiff then hired water consultant Tim Reierson, a former agency insider, to pursue compliance. Despite their efforts, penalties continued to mount, signaling impatience from regulators.
Understanding Washington’s Water Rights Framework
The state’s allocation follows a “first-in-time, first-in-right” principle. Greiff holds a senior water right from 1949, allowing 136 acre-feet annually for his farm. For 38 years, operations proceeded without issue. Recent regulations, however, demand explicit approval for specific fields, exposing older rights to new scrutiny amid heightened environmental oversight.
The Core Violation and Bureaucratic Gridlock
Greiff’s fines stemmed from irrigating the southern 69 acres without prior permission, despite valid overall water rights. This was not overuse but a paperwork gap. He had irrigated only northern acres for two years to build a case for expansion. In August 2022, the Spokane County Water Conservancy Board granted conditional approval, forwarding applications to Ecology for a 75-day review. On day 58, Ecology raised concerns; the board withdrew them on day 65, halting automatic approval.
The Human and Financial Toll
Greiff described the pressure: “They want to cut my pocketbook in half, at first. Now, they want my farm.” A $70,000 tractor purchase in 1992 underscored his investments, now at risk. Reierson stopped billing, calling the handling “the worst abuse of power I’ve seen in my career.” The ordeal left Greiff, in his late 80s, confronting extended legal fights against a resource-rich agency.
As Greiff appeals the fines, community support grows alongside legislative talks on protecting elder farmers. His case highlights tensions between water conservation and longstanding agricultural rights, prompting calls for reforms that balance enforcement with fairness for rural legacies.
Sources:
AgWeb – Government Threatens Seizure of 85-yr-old’s Entire Farm Irrigating Wrong Field
Capital Press – Washington Ecology fines weigh heavily on octogenarian farmer; Eastern Washington farmer, fined $100000, says he did nothing wrong
Washington Department of Ecology – Sept 11 – Spokane County farmer fined; Spokane County farmer fined for unpermitted water use
Yanasa News – Elderly Farmer Faces Land Seizure: State of Washington’s Predatory Land Grab
Water Consultant Timeline – Bob Greiff Timeline
610 KONA – What Led to a $100000 Fine for a Spokane Farmer?