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Photo #4:Lagoon closure |
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Photo #4:Lagoon closure |
A lagoon remains a lagoon until it is officially closed. Even if no longer in use, an existing lagoon must still have a waste management plan OR must be closed. To be closed, all liquid must be removed and land applied at an agronomic rate.
The sludge must also be removed such that less than one foot of material (usually a clay/sand/sludge mixture) remains. Any sludge that is removed also needs to be land applied at an agronomic rate. Sludge contains much higher concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, copper, and zinc than does lagoon liquid; therefore, much larger land areas are required for safe application.
Checking that lagoons are closed properly is one of the tasks of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) agents. Once a lagoon is closed, the farmer has the option of filling the hole or making it into a pond. If he makes it into a pond, NRCS standards and safety regulations apply.
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