Washington ranch family facing $267,000 fine, terminated grazing leases, and possible criminal charges

The King family is accused of damaging "wetlands" because of Google Earth photos officials claim show the area was dredged.

The King family on horseback.

The King Ranch, a family-owned cow-calf operation in arid Central Washington, has been the subject of a years-long, multi-faceted investigation by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The family’s grazing leases have been terminated, and they have been charged a $267,540 fine for alleged damage to “wetlands,” which the family says are man-made stock watering ponds. These accusations were based on Google Earth photos that officials claim shows footprints and evidence of dredging.

“King Ranch excavated or contracted to have excavated at least 22 wetlands without authorization from Ecology,” the allegation claims.

The family has since been accused of disturbing cultural artifacts.

The Kings are under criminal investigation by the state. This investigation has been under seal.

UNWON reached out to Toni Pierson Meacham, one of the attorneys representing the King family. She stated she and the King family are unable to comment on the case at this time. Her quotes in this article are obtained from previous media interviews.

In response to a request for comment, DOE told UNWON it does not comment on active cases.

“The Department of Ecology does not comment on cases actively under litigation,” said Curt Hart, communications manager for DOE. “We understand the next Pollution Control Hearings Board hearing regarding the King Ranch case will be held in July 2026.”

Evolution of the case

The fifth-generation ranching family’s ordeal began two days before Christmas 2021. They received a letter from DOE accusing them of harming “alkali wetlands.” This was based on aerial photographs officials had taken from Google Earth. Although the images were grainy, agents claimed there were “footprints” around the “wetlands” showing the area had been dredged.

“The Kings had never had an issue before this,” Meacham said in an August 2024 podcast episode with host David Bennett. “They had a great relationship with Department of Ecology. They had a great relationship with DNR. They’d never been in trouble, never had issues, had had these DNR leases for, again, generations. They’re considered to be excellent stewards, they do everything possible to care for this ground, you know, wildlife populations, they’re just amazing ranchers. This came out of left field. This was a shock.”

The Kings and their attorneys have hired wetlands experts to look into the alleged disturbance. These experts state the areas in question are not wetlands, but stock ponds put in place by ranchers before the King family started ranching the area 60 years ago.

These ponds are the only source of water on the properties. They are man-made, not a natural ecosystem, and are vital to the cattle grazing operation and to the wildlife in the area. Washington state law allows ranchers to dig and maintain stock ponds without permits.

Yet it appears the government is calling these rancher-built ponds “alkali wetlands” and claiming the King family is guilty of disturbing them.

From Google Maps photo to criminal investigation

Public records requests by the Kings' attorneys turned up inner office memos and emails showing what Meacham calls a "rush to judgment." In one email, DOE employee Jeremy Sikes said he is "not rusty" but rather "full of rust" when it comes to wetlands delineation, however he would still recommend prosecution.

According to the DOE website, Sikes has a bachelor's degree in science, and works as the Eastern Regional senior shorelines planner.

At this point, unbeknownst to the Kings, the DOE began bringing in other entities, including the Environmental Protection Division (EPD). This mysterious, under-the-radar state bureau was created by Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson to criminally prosecute so-called environmental crimes. The King family’s case has been submitted for criminal investigation, Meacham says. Her team learned this when the Kings’ only employee was subpoenaed by EPD.

“We’ve got other emails where they talk about supporting their narrative,” Meacham told Bennett. “All these emails that add up to: They are out to go after a rancher because they want to change the law and they cannot get it any other way. They’re going to get it through the court system. That’s why we believe this has happened.”

“DNR and DOE are absolutely out to get the Kings at all costs.”

Meacham, herself a fifth-generation rancher, approached DOE to ask for evidence of the alleged ecological disturbance. She had worked with DOE many times in the past and believed she would be able to quickly resolve the issue. Instead, DOE informed her they would not share the evidence. She needed to make a public records request. DOE did not disclose that a criminal investigation was taking place. The family and their attorneys believed that this was only a civil matter.

DOE sent another letter to the Kings informing them of a $267,540 fine. They stated the family was now responsible for restoring the so-called wetlands to their original condition. DOE still would not detail what they believed that original condition was, in what way the family had disturbed the area, or what damage had been caused.

DNR then told the Kings they had made a unilateral decision to kick the family off their multi-generational grazing leases in both Grant and Douglas counties, stating that the family was in default because of the alleged damage to wetlands. The Kings were told to pull their cattle from the land immediately.

“If they don’t have a ranch to run them on, they have nowhere to put them,” Meacham told Bennett. “They have to sell them. They’re gone. You’re not getting them back. Huge loss, not just monetary; emotional, the whole gambit. I mean, I can’t even describe to you the devastation that this would cause to a rancher. I actually can’t compare it.”

According to Meacham, DNR further declared that all improvements and structures the King family built over five generations on their leased grazing land—including fencing, corrals, and water systems—were forfeited and now belonged to the government.

“DNR and DOE are absolutely out to get the Kings at all costs.”

Family’s experts says man-made stock watering ponds are not “alkali wetlands”

The allegation is that the family dredged the silt near the man-made ponds. Even if the family did maintain their ponds, there is no evidence that the maintenance was damaging or illegal.

Since this initial action, DNR has filed a separate preliminary injunction against the Kings stating that the family has disturbed cultural artifacts.

“These other cases are just kind of pending because of this criminal jeopardy element,” Meacham said. “Until we get this criminal jeopardy taken care of, the Kings are put at a loss. How can they defend themselves if statements they use can be misconstrued to pursue criminal charges against them?”

King family sues state

The King family has been forced to file five separate lawsuits in an attempt to protect what remains of their livelihood. This includes a lawsuit against DNR in Grant County to get their leases back, as well as a lawsuit against DOE for failing to follow their own protocols.

Through public records requests, Meacham told Bennett she has seen emails from the state asking the federal government to intervene. So far, she says, the federal government has declined.

A donation page has been set up to support the King family in their ongoing legal battle.