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Iowa DNR investigates spill in Hardin County

March 10, 2010, Ackley, IA
– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigated a manure spill that
occurred near Cleves in Hardin County.


March 10, 2010, Ackley, IA
– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigated a manure spill that
occurred near Cleves in Hardin County.

An estimated 3,000 gallons
of manure spilled as manure was being transferred to a concrete basin at the
Merle Johns hog confinement. Apparently a frozen pipeline caused the manure to
overflow a manhole next to the basin and flow overland, where about half of it
reached an underground tile line and flowed to South Beaver Creek.

Investigators noticed the
piping was very close to the tile inlet, which was about 15 feet from the
stream, making it difficult to avoid manure contamination in the stream.

The manure spill caused
elevated levels of ammonia and cloudiness in the stream. Ice and snow hampered
DNR's efforts to examine the stream for a fish kill. The DNR staff did find 14
dead minnows in a six-mile stretch of the stream.