Wisconsin DNR Investigating Manure Spill in Marathon County

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 -- 9:00 AM

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responding to a recently reported manure spill in Marathon County. 

Late Thursday evening, Jan. 15, the DNR was notified of manure discharging from a livestock site to a tributary to Black Creek. The spill occurred while the farm was actively transferring manure between waste storage facilities when the transfer system failed, resulting in manure being discharged from the transfer line.

The volume that was released is unknown at this time. The livestock site is located on Creekview Road in Athens and is owned and operated by Deercreek Holsteins LLC, a permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO).

DNR staff are on site and working closely with Marathon County Department of Conservation, Planning & Zoning to monitor the situation, and the farm is actively cleaning up the discharge.

For more information on manure spills and prevention, visit the DNR's Manure Spills webpage.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.