Mary Taffe's Depiction Of Pollution on Big Stone Lake Receiv

Mary Taffe from Ortonville has received national internet attention with pictures depicting pollution issues that have occurred on Big Stone Lake.

This is a must see:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/pretty-pollution-photos-show-depths-of-minnesota-lakes-environmental-distress-slideshow.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29

Joelie posted a link to the MPCA finding and if you didn't look at it, here is page 10 from their report. This is showing the problems with the 2 dairies at Velben.
Page 10 of 13
Veblen East Dairy & Veblen West Dairy - Marshall County, South Dakota
Veblen East Dairy is an 8,176 head dairy facility that consists of six total confinement barns and eight manure storage basins. Veblen West Dairy, previously known as MCC Dairy, is a 5,500 head dairy facility that consists of five total confinement barns and five manure storage basins. Rick Milner is the managing partner for the entity that owns both facilities. On October 23, 2009, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (South Dakota DENR) issued a Notice of Violation, Order, and Settlement Agreement.
On July 10, 2008, the South Dakota DENR inspected both Veblen East and Veblen West Dairies. During the inspection, it was noted that the basins at Veblen West were at their maximum operating level and the basins at Veblen East were below the maximum operating level. On July 18, 2008, the South Dakota DENR approved the transfer of 10 million gallons of manure from Veblen West to Veblen East. This manure was to be land applied in the fall of 2008 prior to soil freeze, and the South Dakota DENR was to be notified when this was complete. A notification was not received.
In April 2009, the South Dakota DENR received notification from the facilities that the basins at both Veblen East and Veblen West Dairies were above the maximum operating level and into the freeboard of the basins. This was confirmed during a May 6, 2009, site inspection by the South Dakota DENR. On May 20, 2009, Rick Milner contacted the South Dakota DENR to inform them that high winds were causing manure spray to blow over the berms of the north basins and that a line of straw bales was erected to keep the spray from leaving the basins. Various correspondence and inspections in the months of June, July, and August indicated that the basins at both Veblen East and Veblen West were above the maximum operating levels and into the freeboard.
The order required both Dairies to, as soon as possible, remove a sufficient amount of manure to return them to compliance with the freeboard requirements. The order went on to require the removal of manure from all basins to have no more than one foot of residual material remaining by November 1, 2009.
In discussions with the South Dakota DENR staff, it was revealed that the manure removal to a depth of no more than one foot was not accomplished by November 1, 2009; however, levels in the basins had been lowered. Further action may be forthcoming from the South Dakota DENR.
The MPCA has also received complaints about and photos of these facilities, specifically regarding the lack of freeboard, potential for overflow, and pollution resulting from improper land application of manure. The MPCA has received these complaints as the facilities sit at the head of the watershed of Big Stone Lake, located at the border of Minnesota (Big Stone County) and South Dakota.

Mary Taffe's pictures were beautiful. Unfortunately beautiful wasn't what the lake looked like. There were many times we wanted to take our our kayaks on the lake these past few years and didn't dare because of the algae. I didn't know where the algae came from. It is a very unpleasant odor as well as a nuisance when trying to kayak or sail through. The weeds are very thick around our place and we had trouble getting the sailboat through it. It gets caught in the centerboard, the rudder and the motor. I am grateful you posted the link. I learned a lot and now understand it better.