The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on May 6 that it is responding to a manure spill near the village of Athens in Marathon County.
The DNR said it was notified on May 5 about manure discharging from a waste storage structure at Deercreek Holsteins LLC, which is a permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation. The discharge reached a tributary to Black Creek and was caused by a failed valve on a waste transfer system. The volume of the released manure has not yet been determined.
According to the DNR, staff are currently on site and working with the Marathon County Department of Conservation, Planning & Zoning to monitor the situation. Containment measures have been put in place, and Deercreek Holsteins LLC is actively cleaning up the discharge. “Containment measures are in place, and the farm is actively cleaning up the discharge,” said officials from the department.
The incident highlights ongoing efforts by state agencies to manage environmental risks associated with large-scale farming operations. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources functions as a state agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations, offers services such as hunting and fishing licenses along with environmental permits, manages state parks and wildlife areas, extends its conservation efforts statewide, focuses on protecting natural resources for present and future generations, and facilitates public input through advisory councils and comment periods on proposed rules, according to the official website.
For more information about preventing manure spills or reporting incidents like this one, residents can visit the DNR’s Manure Spills webpage.
