RANDALIA – In the last week or two, the Manchester DNR field office alone has investigated three anhydrous ammonia or fertilizer spills, several herbicide spills and another manure spill.

The latest was a manure spill in the Volga River where a severed manure hose line allowed manure to enter the North Branch Volga River Thursday, causing a fish kill about two miles northwest of Randalia in Fayette County.

This is only one of many manure and farm chemical spills the DNR has investigated since fields have dried out enough to plant, said Mike Wade, an environmental specialist in the Manchester DNR field office.

“Everyone’s in a hurry, but sometimes taking that extra time to check a hose connection or inspect equipment can really pay off,” he said. “Inspect your equipment. Keep hose connections away from stream crossings and tile inlets.”

He added, “If something does happen, contact the DNR right away, because we may be able to give you ideas on how to keep the spill out of streams, or minimize its impact.”

The latest manure spill occurred when part of a long hose used to transport manure to a field rolled into a ditch, pulling the hose from its connector. About 5,000 gallons of liquid hog manure flowed 150 feet down a road ditch and into the river.

Commercial manure applicator Mark Goebel of Teams 2000 of Masonville, acted quickly to clamp off the hose and prevent a bigger spill. His efforts to dam the ditch failed, but remaining manure has been contained and will be removed.

Only a few dead fish were visible late Thursday afternoon, but fish were still dying and the manure had traveled about one mile downstream. DNR fisheries staff was at the river Friday to conduct a fish count.

Wade said the Manchester DNR field office alone has investigated three anhydrous ammonia or fertilizer spills, several herbicide spills and another manure spill within the last week or two.

The other manure spill occurred near Blairstown Monday when a leaky hose on equipment owned by Axmear Pumping allowed dairy manure to run into an underground tile line. About 5,000 gallons were discharged to an unnamed tributary of Prairie Creek, but there was no fish kill with this incident.

Manure releases must be reported to the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at (515) 281-8694 within six hours of the onset or discovery of the release.

The DNR may take appropriate legal action in all of these cases.

Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com