Lead contamination closes this rural Whatcom shooting range
A rock pit used as a shooting range in rural Whatcom County has been closed because of concerns over lead contamination, the state Department of Natural Resources said.
Recent testing at the North Fork rock pit, also called a gravel pit, found levels of lead well above environmental standards, DNR said in an emailed statement Thursday, March 16.
“Limiting public access to recreation is not a decision that we take lightly, but the safety of our staff and the public is our primary concern,” said Jay Guthrie, DNR’s Northwest Region manager.
“It is important that all target shooting on state lands is done in a safe and responsible manner, and that includes observing the closure of areas where target shooting can no longer be done safely.”
The rock pit is on DNR-managed trust lands northeast of Deming and has long been popular among target shooters.
But the site has “struggled with garbage dumping, illegal shooting, and other public safety issues,” DNR said.
Meanwhile, the county-operated Plantation Rifle Range remains closed to outdoor shooting, because of similar contamination concerns.
An indoor range could open in April, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
This story was originally published March 16, 2023 at 10:13 AM.
