River Feared Polluted By Cow Waste

Several lagoons containing livestock waste at a local dairy have been flooded, possibly polluting the Boise River.

Until a major levee breach upstream is fixed and floodwaters recede, officials will not know whether any damage has occurred, said Marv Patten, chief of the state Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dairying.

“It’s tough to estimate the amount of effluents that may have gone into the Boise River,” Patten said Friday.

Waste lagoons have been under water since last weekend at the dairy near U.S. Highway 95 owned by August Vanderwey and operated by Gary Gorzeman.

About 420 cows have been moved to a nearby dairy.

Flood District 1 Commissioner Chuck Olewinski said the levee breach should be repaired within days.