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DEC investigating manure runoff in Parishville that is getting into local tributaries of Raquette River

Posted 2/8/19

By MATT LINDSEY North Country Now PARISHVILLE – The Department of Conservation is investigating a major manure runoff on property along State Highway 72. Parishville resident Gary Snell attributes …

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DEC investigating manure runoff in Parishville that is getting into local tributaries of Raquette River

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY
North Country Now

PARISHVILLE – The Department of Conservation is investigating a major manure runoff on property along State Highway 72.

Parishville resident Gary Snell attributes the manure runoff to the neighboring Adon Farms, 401 State Highway 72, and the Department of Environmental Conservation office in Watertown confirms that, according to spokesperson Andrea Pedrick.

Nick Gilbert, an Adon owner, declined to speak with North Country This Week about the incident. A message was left with another owner, Tony Gilbert. As of print, he did not respond to the message asking for comment.

Snell, who discovered the runoff on his property on SH 72 Feb. 5, confronted the farmers and reported it to the DEC. He also shared a video on Facebook of the liquid manure running through his property. The video has had over 10,000 views.

“This is draining into Garfield Brook and eventually the Raquette River, the Village of Potsdam's water supply,” Snell said. “Maybe it should be of some concern to you if you are drinking this?”

DEC ECO Brian Boyer came from Watertown to investigate the complaint and inspected the area. Pedrick said his investigation pointed to Adon Farms as the source.

“I really am not into slamming Gilberts but this needs to be brought to light,” Snell said. “It's wrong. I know is a community concern. This makes all the farmers that are following the rules and doing things right look bad.”

To watch a video the manure runoff, which was viewed over 10,000 times on Snell’s Facebook page, click here.