A Dairy Farm in Monroe County Settles for $120,000 Over Environmental Violations
In a significant development for environmental oversight, a dairy farm in Monroe County has agreed to a settlement of $120,000 to address alleged breaches of Wisconsin’s environmental regulations. The announcement came from Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, highlighting the state’s commitment to enforcing environmental standards.
The settlement pertains to a fish kill incident that took place in 2024 near Norwalk. Alan Ferries, the proprietor of Spring Valley Holsteins, a mid-sized dairy farm, reached the settlement agreement in December, which aims to resolve the accusations linked to the environmental mishap.
According to the filed complaint, the incident was caused by an overflow from the farm’s manure storage, attributed to a malfunctioning manure transfer system. This overflow led to manure seeping into a nearby tributary and subsequently into Moore Creek.
On May 13, 2024, local residents alerted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with reports of deceased fish in the creek. The DNR’s investigation confirmed the presence of manure and dead fish, including species such as brown trout, white suckers, and brook trout, extending for approximately a mile along the creek.
Attorney General Kaul emphasized the importance of legal enforcement in preventing environmental damage, stating, “Enforcing our environmental laws can help remedy environmental harm and deter violations. Members of the public can help make a difference by reporting potential environmental violations.”
Ferries assessed that the incident resulted in around 4,000 gallons of manure being released from the farm’s storage facility. As part of the settlement, the dairy farm is required to pay $90,000 to the agency to address the ecological damage from the fish kill.
For those wishing to report environmental concerns, the DNR offers an anonymous tip hotline, accessible by texting or calling 1-800-TIP-WDNR.
