BURR OAK – The DNR Manchester field office worked with a hog producer to prevent runoff from emergency winter manure application about 15 miles north of Decorah.
S and P Enterprises of Burr Oak notified DNR at 8 a.m. Friday that they had discovered a water leak into a manure storage pit. Although the pit was emptied last fall, it is now nearly full of water and some manure.
The facility’s preliminary estimate shows roughly 750,000 gallons of dilute manure will need to be land applied Friday and Saturday.
Following state regulations for emergency manure application, the producer and his consultant worked with DNR to find a suitable location on previously identified acres. DNR staff onsite think the risk of runoff is low, but there is some risk because of the large volume of manure involved.
The DNR will monitor the situation to help prevent runoff and environmental damage.