OLYMPIA - Effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 18, 2009, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with officials from Pacific County, will restrict all land clearing, residential, and silvicultural (forestry) burning on forestlands until further notice.

Silvicultural burning is usually associated with timber operations or other forest practices on unimproved or forested land. This burn restriction will coincide with a county burn ban that will go into effect on improved property in Wahkiakum County. The restrictions may be extended depending on fire weather conditions. These restrictions do not extend to federally managed lands.

HOQUIAM, Wash. -- Fish and Wildlife investigators are looking for the people responsible for an illegal gillnet set across the Humptulips River. Sergeant Matt Nixon says the net was reported by a concerned citizen.

Investigators removed the net and found 11 steelhead, 10 of which Nixon says were "spoiled and unsalvagable."

All but one of the fish was legal to catch with hook and line, however Nixon says fishing on the river with gillnet is illegal. A reward may be offered for information about people doing gillnet fishing on the Humptulips River.

The City of Hoquiam received official notice from the United States Department of Agriculture that they have received a $9,470,000 loan for the biosolids removal project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

With these funds, the City will remove over 30 years of accumulated biosolids to be land applied at an approved facility.  Additionally, dikes will be installed so that a portion of the lagoon can be filled with materials from the pontoon construction site or other fill sources.  The loan is for 40 years at 2.625% interest.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday the selection of $250 million in water and environmental projects that are being funded immediately through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The 32 projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in 17 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. This is the fifth wave of water and environmental projects that USDA has announced, with total funding of $1.134 billion.

In Hoquiam, Wash., the city has made its lagoon modernization project a high-capital improvement priority. The lagoon, as it is now, has a significant potential of leaching pollutants into the local water system, risking public health and jeopardizing area industry. The city will receive a $9.47 million loan to modify its 48-acre lagoon that stabilizes and stores waste and sludge, and serves as an emergency holding area for excess flow to the treatment plant. Funds also will help to remove waste that has built up for 30 years and poses a significant environmental risk.

History is in the making this Friday and Saturday Night at Grays Harbor Raceway located at the Fairgrounds in Elma, as the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Tour presented by K & N Filters makes their first ever appearance west of the Rocky Mountains for the running of the 3^rd Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial event,  that will pay the winner $10,092 to win.  In the 17 years that the series has been in competition they have competed at over 100 tracks in 22 different states throughout the nation.