Michigan sues farm and "manure management company" over 2009 fish kill

The State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment has sued Noll Dairy Farm Inc. and Nevin and Heather Wenger (doing business as "Back Country Manure Management Co.") over a fish kill that occurred in August of 2009 in the Black River.  Officials have previously stated that manure ran off from a Noll Dairy field into a tributary of the river after an allegedly excessive application by Back Country.  The result was a fish kill of over 200,000 (including smallmouth bass, catfish, northern pike, rock bass, sunfish, suckers and minnows) over a 12-mile run of the river.  The law suit launched seeks "compensation to the State of Michigan for natural resource damages", including loss of public resources, loss of recreational opportunities and the costs of rehabilitation of the Black River and its tributaries.