Town Considers Network Of Monitoring Wells Around Proposed CAFO

The central Wisconsin town of Saratoga is considering a network of monitoring wells that would surround a proposed Combined Animal Feeding Operation.

The 10 wells would check water quality around the proposed 5,300-animal, 7,000-acre Golden Sands Family Farm, which would utilize 49 high-capacity wells in its operation. The Saratoga town board will consider the monitoring well network and its estimated $60,000 cost at its meeting Wednesday night.

The CAFO has been opposed by the town board and a group of area residents who are worried about groundwater quality and about the water levels of regional lakes and streams. The town was ordered to issue building permits for the dairy after a lawsuit was filed by Golden Sands owner, the Wysocki Family of Companies.

Ramzy Bitar, who represented the town in that litigation, said board members still hope the Department of Natural Resources will refuse the dairy’s application for its high-capacity wells.

“The operation of this CAFO does have as one of its components these large-capacity wells, and the town does have some concerns with those,” Bitar said. “It has concerns in terms of both its impact on water quality and in terms of water quantity, and the town will be responding to that as is its right.”

The DNR is in the process of drafting an environmental impact statement.

A phone call to Golden Sands owner Jim Wysocki was not returned in time for this story.