116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
DNR: Waverly dairy polluted stream for ‘extended period’
State environmental regulators noted numerous infractions last year
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A dairy farm northwest of Waverly operated for years without a required plan to manage its manure and repeatedly released polluted water and manure to a nearby property and stream, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The ten Hoeve Dairy recently agreed to pay a $7,000 fine for contaminating the stream, according to a DNR order.
The dairy, which state records indicate is owned by Gerben ten Hoeve, began operating in 2006. At the time it was small enough that state rules didn't require construction permits for its buildings or state-approved plans for the disposal of its manure.
But the dairy expanded in the first three years of its operation and at some point crossed a size threshold — 500 animal units, which is equivalent to about 350 dairy cows — that imposes the requirements.
It did not inform the DNR about the animal expansion until at least six years later in 2015, when it submitted a "notice of self-audit," according to the order. Those who violate the state's animal confinement regulations can avoid penalties by self-reporting them.
The dairy now has 649 milk cows and 90 calves, which are equal to about double that size threshold.
In April 2023, someone reported to the DNR that manure from ten Hoeve Dairy was flowing to a neighboring field. An investigation by Jeremy Klatt, a senior environmental specialist for the department, revealed:
- An outdoor system that is meant to separate water from sand and manure from the confinement buildings had leaked manure into the field. "When it was raining, that stuff was flowing off the property and onto the neighbor's field," Klatt told The Gazette.
- Two other manure storage basins were close to full. One of them appeared to have recently overflowed, but its manure did not leave the property.
- Stormwater runoff from an area of two large feed bunkers had flowed across the ground and into an underground tiling intake that went to a nearby creek. Tests of that water showed a high ammonia concentration, and the water near the tiling exit had black sludge and sewage fungus. "Based on observations from the investigation, it was evident that the release had been occurring for an extended period of time," the order said.
- The bodies of dead cows were exposed in a composting area. State rules require them to be covered by composting material.
- There was an apparent burn pile that had tarps and pallets. Such waste must be taken to a landfill.
- Records of the dairy's manure disposal on nearby farm fields did not indicate how much commercial fertilizer was also being applied to those fields, which can lead to overapplication of manure.
- A member of the family that operates the dairy who dispersed manure on the fields was not properly certified.
The dairy operators have removed the tiling intake to prevent further stream contamination, Klatt said.
The dairy’s fine will be paid, in part, to the Butler County Conservation Board to fund an unspecified environmental project, the order said.
Comments: (319) 368-8541; jared.strong@thegazette.com
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