A Monroe County dairy farm will pay $120,000 under a settlement over alleged violations of the state’s environmental laws, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Friday.
The fine is tied to a fish kill that occurred in 2024 east of Norwalk. In a release, Kaul said Alan Ferries, owner of the mid-sized dairy farm Spring Valley Holsteins, agreed to the settlement in December to resolve the allegations that the farm was responsible for the spill.
According to a complaint, manure overflowed from the farm’s manure storage facility into an unnamed tributary and then Moore Creek due to a faulty manure transfer system.
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On May 13, 2024, community members reported multiple complaints of dead fish in the creek to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The DNR investigated the area and found manure and dead fish in the creek for about a mile, including brown trout, white suckers and brook trout.
“Enforcing our environmental laws can help remedy environmental harm and deter violations,” said Kaul in a statement. “Members of the public can help make a difference by reporting potential environmental violations.”
Ferries estimated around 4,000 gallons of manure spilled from the farm’s manure storage facility.
The dairy must pay $90,000 to the agency to address harm from the fish kill.
People can report spills anonymously to the DNR’s tip hotline by texting or calling 1-800-TIP-WDNR.
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