Manure spill on Dry Run Creek being investigated by the Iowa DNR

The Iowa DNR has disclosed details about a manure spill on Dry Run Creek four miles southwest of Decorah on Wednesday.

After receiving a report of a possible creek contamination, DNR staffers went to Dry Run Creek and followed a trail of contaminated water back to a dairy farm owned by Darryl Humpal of Ridgeway.

Humpal told DNR staffers he had applied manure on a hay field near the creek on Monday. Rainfall Monday night apparently flushed the dairy manure into the creek, affecting about five miles of stream.  DNR environmental staff found no dead game fish but did find large numbers of dead minnows and suckers.
 
The DNR says Humpal disked the hay field on Wednesday and Thursday and pumped more than 10,000 gallons of diluted water from the creek to prevent further contamination downstream.

The cleanup from the spill has ended, but DNR officials say their investigation into the spill--and possible penalties against the farm involved--is continuing.  A news release from the DNR states, "DNR will continue to monitor the cleanup, conduct a fish kill count and consider appropriate enforcement action."