A dairy farm in Monroe County and its operator have consented to pay $120,000 to settle claims that manure spills led to a fish kill in a local waterway, as announced by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in 2024.
The settlement, which was sanctioned by the Monroe County Circuit Court on December 23, 2025, addresses a civil enforcement action against Spring Valley Holsteins, Inc., a mid-sized dairy farm located in Norwalk, along with its operator, Alan Ferries. Out of the total amount, $90,000 will be allocated to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address the environmental harm caused by the fish kill in Moore Creek and an unnamed tributary.
The complaint states that a malfunction in the manure transfer system at the farm’s storage facility caused manure to overflow and spill into the unnamed tributary, which subsequently flows into Moore Creek. On May 13, 2024, members of the public alerted the DNR about water contamination and the presence of dead fish, leading to an investigation.
DNR personnel found dead fish in both waterways, including species such as brown trout, white suckers, blacknose dace, longnose dace, and others. Investigators concluded that manure spills took place on at least May 14 and May 17, 2024, impacting roughly 1.2 miles of aquatic habitat. Approximately 4,000 gallons of manure were released during the initial spill, followed by an additional 500 gallons a few days later.
The complaint claims that manure was deliberately directed into areas that drained towards the tributary and that the farm lacked a permit to discharge pollutants into state waters. The DNR later noted persistent water quality problems, including turbidity and foam, which indicated high nutrient levels weeks after the spills.
The DNR estimated the economic impact of the fish kill to be nearly $120,000. Following the completion of repairs to the manure transfer system and changes in management, the DNR issued a satisfaction notice to the farm in December 2024.
“Enforcing our environmental laws can help remedy environmental harm and deter violations,” Kaul said in a statement, noting that tips from the public played a key role in launching the investigation.
State officials encouraged residents to report water contamination or fish kills to the DNR Tip Hotline.
A copy of the Complaint, Stipulation for Judgment, Order for Judgment, and Judgment are linked.
