The DM Reg. had the item about the Hamilton County spill, but I didn't know about the one near Keosauqua. God bless the DNR! They're quick on the scene AFTER a spill, but if they had any brains they could prevent the construction of these factories in the first place.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Neila Seaman 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 4:44 PM
  Subject: manure spill and fish kill





  Iowa DNR News

  Environmental Services Division



  For immediate release                                                                                   Nov. 5, 2007 


    1.. Fish kill in Hamilton County due to hog confinement overflow 
    2.. Manure reaches Van Buren County stream during manure application 




  FISH KILL IN HAMILTON COUNTY DUE TO HOG CONFINEMENT OVERFLOW



  MEDIA CONTACT: Dale Adams or Jeff Vansteenburg or at (641) 424-4073.



  RANDALL – Periodic cleaning at a hog confinement led to a discharge of manure and a fish kill one mile east of Randall over the weekend. 



  Producers Neva and Mark Henderson were power washing an empty confinement building late last week to prepare for another cycle of hogs when the pipe plugged between the building and an earthen basin. Rinse water and manure, which would normally flow to the storage basin, flowed out of the building and into a nearby ditch. 



  The manure mix flowed from the ditch into a 1.2 mile-long tributary of the Skunk River, causing a fish kill. DNR fisheries biologists indicate that at least 1,110 fish were killed. The dead fish were mostly minnows, shiners, chubs, dace and darters. 



  There were no dead fish in the Skunk River below the tributary. 



  The Hendersons were not sure when the discharge began, but reported it to the DNR at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and unplugged the pipe by 2:30 p.m. They blocked the ditch leading to the tributary, and pumped up the manure and water to prevent additional discharge reaching downstream.  



  They did some additional pumping after their contract company sent an environmental representative to help with the clean up.  



  The DNR will continue to investigate the incident, monitor the clean up and will consider appropriate enforcement action. The DNR will also seek about $494 for fish restitution and the cost of the fisheries investigation.



  Also on Monday, the DNR was investigating two other manure spills in north central Iowa and reminds producers and manure applicators to check application equipment and facilities frequently to prevent spills.



  Writer: Karen Grimes



  # # #



  MANURE REACHES STREAM IN VAN BUREN COUNTY DURING MANURE APPLICATION



  MEDIA CONTACT: Ryan Stouder at (319) 653-2135.



  KEOSAUQUA — Improper manure application led to manure reaching a stream about five miles east of Keosauqua in Van Buren County this weekend.



  HFK-KEO, LLC was applying liquid hog manure from an earthen basin at its Keosauqua Sow Unit 1 facility Friday afternoon. The applicators did not move a manure irrigation sprayer, allowing manure to saturate the ground. Manure then ran over the ground and into an unnamed tributary of the Des Moines River.



  The manure release at the hog confinement began around 11:00 a.m. and ended around 1:30 p.m. The release was reported to the DNR at 3:15 Friday afternoon.



  “The manure reaching the stream could likely have been avoided had the manure application process been monitored better,” said Ryan Stouder of the DNR’s Washington field office. “If the release had been reported immediately, we could have provided technical assistance sooner.”



  HFK-KEO staff estimated that 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of manure reached the stream, creating a pink color in the water. The manure also raised ammonia levels in the stream.



  A DNR follow-up investigation on Saturday found the manure stretched approximately 4,300 feet of the 5,900-foot-long stream. DNR staff has not yet observed any dead fish, but noted that feeder streams to the creek are adding clean water, helping to dilute the manure. The DNR has also taken water samples.



  The DNR will continue to investigate and may consider possible enforcement action.



  Writer: Jess Brown



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