The citizens’ group HOMES (Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standards) in Jo Daviess County is continuing its fight against Traditions Dairy, the megadairy owned by A. J. Bos that threatens their quality of life. Read the coverage in the July 4-10, 2012, issue of Rock River Times, or access a pdf of this story.
“The construction site of this proposed megadairy consists of 130 acres, of which 42 would be allocated to stagnating manure ponds 20 feet deep, one-half mile from houses of residents. The stream flowing under manure ponds will transport waste directly into the Apple River. According to court testimony given by James Evans, senior agricultural engineer for Maurer Stutz, the firm that engineered this megadairy, 42 acres of manure ponds will leak ‘a little less than 1,000 gallons per day per acre.'”
The megadairy is still in construction phase, but has already caused environmental problems. On October 1, 2010, we posted about a purple stream in JoDaviess County. The purple color originated from a silage leachate pond on the site of this dairy, and this pond water had been applied to five acres of Bos’ property the previous day, at an astounding rate of 64,000 gallons per acre. Usual application rates are less than 10,000 gallons per acre.
Prairie Rivers Network has supported HOMES in their efforts to protect their wells and streams from being polluted by this dairy. For more detailed information about the situation, please visit the HOMES website at www.stopthemegadairy.org.
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