NEWKIRK—The DNR Spencer field office responded Thursday to a small manure spill about 0.5 miles south of Newkirk in Sioux County.
A commercial manure applicator, Brad Jochum of Le Mars, was land applying manure from Hickory Hill Dairy of Newkirk when a drag hose developed a leak about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Jochum shut off the pump, but between 500 and 1,000 gallons of manure spilled. An unknown amount reached an unnamed tributary to the Floyd River.
“The hose contents are under pressure, but because of the quick response little escaped,” said Lois Benson, DNR specialist on site. “He built a dam across the creek and pumped out most of the manure, all within a few hours.”
Benson took water samples for testing, but said it looked as if little, if any, manure moved downstream. She did not see any dead fish below the dam.
The DNR will monitor the cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.