OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has lost a multimillion-dollar contract to operate two fish hatcheries following a report of a sexual culture among top-ranking employees at one of them.
The News Tribune reports officials with the Douglas County Public Utility District, which owns the hatcheries, decided Monday to end its one-year contract with the state to operate the Wells and Methow hatcheries in north central Washington.
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Utility district spokeswoman Meaghan Vibbert says the contract renewed in June was set to pay $1.36 million to the state for the Wells Hatchery and another $715,000 for the Methow Hatchery.
The four highest-ranking employees at Wells were fired by the state earlier this month after an investigation into sexual-harassment claims found a workplace atmosphere riddled with sexual conversations and hazing.
Fish and Wildlife spokesman Bruce Botka said the agency wants to talk to utility district officials about their decision.
Associated Press