More manure spread even after fish killed

By Bill Novak
March 8, 2005

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Working the west branch of the Sugar River south of Mount Horeb on Wednesday were DNR fish biologists Michael Sorge (left), Kurt Welke and Jim Amrhein. They found trout that survived the liquid manure runoff that flushed into the stream last week. The biologists used electric probes to collect the living fish, but more than 200 dead trout have been found. (File photo)

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As liquid manure washed off frozen farm fields this warm, sunny weekend and into the west branch of the Sugar River, Department of Natural Resources officials made the disturbing discovery that other farmers in the area were spraying liquid manure onto frozen farm fields.

"Sometimes you just wonder," said DNR spokesman Greg Matthews. "Between the time of the first manure runoff (late in February) and all the publicity about the fish kill since then, other farmers spread manure on fields near Blue Valley Road."

DNR staff shocked the west branch of the Sugar River Friday and reported some good news. The procedure, which stuns live fish with electricity in order to count them, revealed a sizable number of live fish still in the stream, in all age categories.

But the rapid runoff Saturday and Sunday because of the warm weather and snow melting could result in more fish being killed by the liquid manure.

"We weren't able to get to the river Sunday because of the wet conditions but we will shock the river again to see the extent of any more fish killed," Matthews said. "This stretch of cold weather will help because it'll slow down the runoff."

The unidentified farmer under suspicion for allowing liquid manure to be spread onto upland fields on the farm south of Mount Horeb tried to lessen the impact of the manure by chisel plowing the manure into the soil to reduce runoff, but the surge in temperatures into the 40s and 50s Saturday and Sunday made the fight to hold back the manure a greater challenge than expected.

"The earthen berm created on Blue Valley Road to keep the manure from going downstream was breached by the large amount of water runoff, so an undetermined amount of liquid manure will most likely enter the west branch of the Sugar River shortly," Matthews said.

Farmers usually wouldn't be spreading manure this time of year because the ground is still frozen and farmers risk the chance of having the manure run into streams, resulting in damages they could end up being liable for.

Spreading manure in winter isn't against the law but it does go against the grain of sound environmental practices due to the likelihood the manure will wash away because it's not able to seep into the frozen soil.

Bad weather last fall forced farmers to keep liquid manure in storage facilities instead of spreading it on fields where it could soak in, so farmers are now stuck with a never-ending supply of liquid manure from livestock and no place to put it except on the frozen ground.

The DNR investigates several liquid manure spills or runoffs into streams every year, a not uncommon situation considering the numbers of livestock living in Wisconsin.

Most of the time, Matthews said, there are no problems.

"The majority of farmers are hard-working and conscientious but all we need is a couple of bad actors to ruin it," he said.

The fast-flowing runoff Sunday because of the very warm (for March) temperatures might have saved some fish because of how fast everything, including manure, was moving downstream.

"On Sunday we had numerous reports from our observers of stuff just flowing off the land but there was also a lot of clear runoff due to the volume," Matthews said.

The DNR is still investigating the original liquid manure runoff from steep-sloped fields near Wisconsin 78 and Blue Valley Road in the town of Blue Mounds about Feb. 25. Neither the farmer or the manure hauler has been identified or charged in the case.

E-mail: bnovak@madison.com

Published: 9:58 AM 3/8/05