SARATOGA, WI (WSAU) — The Town of Saratoga is preparing for a legal challenge to the Wyscocki family’s Golden Sands Dairy farm.
The town’s legal counsel, Paul Kent, detailed why citizens need to be concerned about the farm, and why he believes the town will be able to win out and protect their water table. Kent suggests it is not possible for Golden Sands Dairy to keep the affected groundwater at a healthy drinking range for nitrates, which is below 10 milligrams per liter.
Kent revealed nitrate readings from wells placed in the town for study in late 2013 on land converted to crop land for comparison as to what could happen if the farm got into Saratoga’s aquifer.
He said, “A few weeks ago, we got the results showing that we’re now at 12.6 [milligrams-per-liter]. In two-and-a-half years, we have gone from the 2.4, 1.7 range to exceeding groundwater standards.”
Golden Sands claims to have a model that shows they can control nitrate absorption into groundwater and keep it within healthy limits, but they have not produced that model for the DNR or the public. Kent says they believe that’s all that can be expected of them by the DNR.
“According to Golden Sands, the [DNR] can only restrict the kinds of management practices that Golden Sands can use and they cannot protect groundwater, they can’t hold Golden Sands to a groundwater protection standard.”
The DNR is expected to make their decision on well placement for the farm early next year, and Saratoga is prepared to go to trial to challenge if they approve it.
