For the Tomahawk Leader

LINCOLN COUNTY – A manure spill that occurred at a dairy farm in southern Lincoln County this week resulted in a fish kill in Devil Creek, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said in a release from Thursday, June 10.

The DNR said it is assisting in the cleanup of the spill.

According to the release, on the evening of Wednesday, June 9, the DNR was notified of “an unknown amount of liquid manure running off of a field into Devil Creek, a cool-cold headwater stream and tributary of the Wisconsin River, resulting in an observable fish kill at multiple locations within Devil Creek.”

The manure release was reported to have originated off of Joe Snow Road, approximately four miles southwest of the Town of Merrill in Lincoln County, according to the release.

“The source of the manure originated from open valve on a manure pit at a medium-sized dairy operation,” the release stated. “The duration of the spill and quantity release is still under investigation. The DNR will continue to work with the farm and other applicable local agencies to continue to investigate the release.”

No further details were released. The DNR said it would share additional information as it becomes available.