Commissioner highlights Todd County manure‑pit closure as model for reducing watershed risk

At the May 19 meeting Commissioner Notch described a recent Sauk River Watershed Policy Committee presentation about closing abandoned farm manure pits and urged Stearns County staff to consider a proactive approach.

Notch said the showcased project in Todd County used a 75% cost‑share grant to close an earthen, clay‑lined manure pit located within about 500 feet of Sauk Lake. He reported the low construction bid for the closure was roughly $30,000, with the grant covering approximately $22,000 of that cost.

“Below that clay lining it still managed to leach down anywhere from six inches to 12 inches of contaminated soil,” Notch said, and he identified nitrogen, phosphorus and coliform bacteria as the principal contamination concerns for groundwater and nearby surface waters. Notch described the closures as targeted at older clay‑lined lagoons rather than membrane‑lined or concrete systems, and he said the tile lines placed around some pits are intended to keep groundwater pressure from degrading pit walls.

Notch asked county staff to query Soil and Water about how many abandoned pits exist in the county and suggested the county examine cost‑share opportunities to remove environmental risk. He noted the closures can be costly and typically require grant funding to be financially feasible for producers. The board did not take formal action on the item at the meeting beyond the discussion and a request to follow up with Soil and Water officials.