Iowa DNR staff investigating feedlot runoff in Carroll County

Carroll County, IA – On Thursday, Iowa DNR officials received a tip indicating manure was discharging from the Wendl Feedlot.

Officials said that the feedlot owner Brian Wendl drove 900 miles overnight to oversee containing and cleaning up the runoff.

The following day, Iowa DNR staff found runoff leaving several locations from a saturated field, flowing into a tributary of Willey Creek.

The discharge occurred when the field became saturated following an attempt to dewater a basin used to contain manure.

DNR staff found elevated ammonia levels in the tributary at the field, but considerably lower levels a mile downstream.

The tributary flows into Willey Creek and then into the Middle Raccoon.

Iowa DNR officials said that there were no signs of dead fish and the stream was running high after about three inches of rain in the last few days.

DNR staff will monitor the cleanup and containment.