March 2-15, 2003 -- Liquid manure applied to frozen ground has been running off fields, pouring into streams. We've seen massive contamination in three watersheds these two weeks -- 5 more confirmed discharges.  DEQ E. coli samples at one site on March 4 reached the highest levels yet: 1,340,000/100 ml (more than 1,300 times the acceptable level).  None of the pollution was contained -- it all flowed downstream into the St. Joseph River, the River Raisin, or the Bean/Tiffin River to Lake Erie.

 
3-2-03, manure flow in Toad Creek just reaching culvert; and 3-8-03 downstream--- Mericam Dairy. After application to frozen ground, Coman Rd (Wright Twp, Hillsdale County), manure ponded overnight in the field, then drained across neighbor's property to Farnam County Drain and directly into Toad Creek, the major tributary of Lime Creek in the Bean/Tiffin watershed.  click for video

March 2003 -- More violations from Vreba-Hoff lead to DEQ Administrative Consent Order (ACO), with $3,100 civil fine and stipulated penalties for future discharges.

February 2003 -- Vreba-Hoff finally fined!  After multiple illegal discharges to the Bean Creek Watershed, the State of Michigan fined Vreba-Hoff 1 (Dillon Hwy, Medina Twp) and Vreba-Hoff 2 (US-127, Wright Twp) $15,000 each, and stipulated penalties of $2,500 each for any additional violations. In addition, the two operations will be required to reimburse state costs, construct silage runoff control systems, and Vreba-Hoff 1 will be required to remediate a swale and wetland contaminated by silage leachate.
Sunday, March 9, 2003 -- Runoff of manure from fields, into drains and streams, continues. Six industrial dairies applied liquid manure to frozen ground in recent weeks -- pollution flows to streams today from all those applications. Here are just a few photos:

  
(above) most foul-smelling of all locations, Rice Lake Drain, Haley Rd;Bovee Drain, Whaley Rd
 
Toad Creek, Coman Rd; and manure flow inside catch-basin, Drain 261 to Toad Creek

Saturday, March 8, 2003 -- very warm during the afternoon, 40 degrees.  Massive runoff of liquid manure from frozen fields.

liquid manure from field off photo at left, flowing onto neighbor's property and into catch-basin (center front, in snow) for Miller Drain, which flows to South Branch of River Raisin.

Friday, March 7, 2003 -- weather is warming slightly.  Most streams are still solid ice, but some drains downstream from fields where liquid manure was applied are flowing brown.

 
Bear Creek, Hughes Hwy(left); tributary of South Branch of River Raisin (right)

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 --all sites had water discoloration, manure odor

Liquid manure applied to frozen ground is flowing today, both overland and through tile inlets to county drains and streams. The awful manure discharge into Toad Creek on Sunday looks like just the beginning.  ECCSCM Pollution Watch volunteers observed at least 5 illegal discharges today. There is clearly visible pollution of streams in 3 watersheds -- Lime Creek, Durfee Creek, and Toad Creek in the Bean/Tiffin watershed; Bear Creek in the River Raisin watershed; and a tributary of the East Branch of the St. Joe in the St. Joseph River watershed.

  
(above) pulled/blown tile plug US127, drains to Fisher Lake (Bean/Tiffin); Tamarack drain downstream from liquid manure application (East Branch of St. Joseph River)

 
(above) Aftermath of Sunday's huge manure flow to Toad Creek (Bean/Tiffin).  This field shows ponded manure draining to Toad Creek through a county drain--left, bales pulled this morning, allowing more contamination to reach Toad Creek; right, bales replaced this afternoon on order of Hillsdale County Drain Commission.

       
(above) Durfee Creek at Packard (Bean/Tiffin); Durfee Extension at Dillon Hwy (Bean/Tiffin);


3-13-03, manure runoff to catch-basin on Donnelly Rd, drain to Fisher Lake (Medina Twp, Lenawee Co.) -- Vreba-Hoff 2

Other field locations with massive runoff to drains and streams:
Bothwell & Packard Rds, to Bean Creek -- Vreba-Hoff 2 DEQ-confirmed discharge
Acker Rd, to Durfee Lake -- Vreba-Hoff 2
Tuttle & Tamarack Rds, to East Branch of St. Joseph River -- Vreba-Hoff 2
Ingall Hwy, to Medina Drain and Bean Creek -- Vreba-Hoff 1 DEQ-confirmed discharge
Dillon Hwy, to Durfee Creek and Lime Creek -- Vreba-Hoff 1
Forrister Rd, to Hazen Creek -- New Flevo
Hughes Hwy, to Henning Drain and Bear Creek-- Hartland Farms