West River Dairy Expansion
Facts & Frequently Asked Questions

Riverview, LLP proposes to add an 11,000-cow dairy farm adjacent to the existing West River Dairy in Stevens County, Minnesota. West River Dairy has operated successfully here for more than 20 years, producing milk, renewable natural gas, and supporting local crop farmers.

The expansion will be built on currently cultivated agricultural land.

Yes. The expansion is undergoing Minnesota’s formal Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process — an extensive environmental review process that ensures a protective environmental outcome for projects like this. Combined with the feedlot permit application, the project documentation totals nearly 900 pages of detailed technical analysis covering groundwater, surface water, air quality, and natural resources.

Riverview has worked with state agencies on this expansion for more than three years, and the MPCA extended the public comment period to allow additional time for community participation. No approvals occur automatically — public input and agency review come first.

Yes. At least 12 dairy farms of similar size to this expansion already exist in Minnesota and have been operating safely and successfully for decades.

Riverview has successfully managed regulated livestock facilities for over 50 years and has a strong track record of responsible manure management. West River Dairy itself has operated for more than 20 years and already underwent environmental review when originally permitted in 2004.

The primary water source is a pre-existing off-site well located approximately three miles southeast of the dairy, originally permitted by the DNR for 452 million gallons per year (MGY). Riverview is voluntarily reducing that permitted volume by half — to 226 MGY.

The project will also capture and reuse an estimated 90 MGY of stormwater runoff, further reducing reliance on groundwater.

The project uses less permitted groundwater than what was previously approved. The off-site well draws from a different aquifer than the wells at the existing dairy, creating a diversified groundwater approach that avoids concentrating withdrawals in one location.

A seven-day aquifer pump test confirmed the aquifer provides ample water. Any water use is subject to the Minnesota DNR’s rigorous permitting process, which is designed to ensure long-term sustainability. State law prioritizes domestic water use above all other uses.

Water use will be governed by enforceable DNR permit conditions tied to river flow levels. As flows decline, pumping will be reduced or suspended to protect the river, as determined by the DNR. Historical data for the Pomme de Terre River show that these stricter limits don’t happen often — but if they do, the permit is designed to ensure the river is protected.

As an additional safeguard, Riverview will construct two on-site water storage basins capable of holding up to 140 million gallons — a nine-month contingency water supply.

The project site is clay-rich and has low susceptibility to groundwater pollution. The shallowest potential aquifer is approximately 100 feet or deeper below grade, with bedrock at 281–289 feet. There is no karst topography, exposed bedrock, or sandy soils at the site or manure application fields.

There are no wellhead protection areas nearby, and the nearest drinking water supply areas (Morris and Chokio) are approximately 7.8 and 3.0 miles from the closest manure application field.

The EAW includes detailed descriptions of nearby natural features, including wildlife management areas, surface water resources, and groundwater conditions. Riverview also requested Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) reviews to identify ecologically significant areas, and manure application fields were adjusted or removed where necessary.

The project will reduce stormwater runoff compared to current field conditions at the proposed expansion site. After construction, stormwater will be captured, filtered, and/or reused through permanent stormwater and water storage basins.

All manure and process wastewater will be fully contained — any discharge of pollutants is prohibited under state and federal law. Liquid manure will be stored in clay-lined basins with impermeable covers. The clay liners will be five feet thick, more than double the standard requirement.

A perimeter drain-tile inspection system beneath each basin enables regular monitoring. Manure will be land-applied as organic fertilizer in accordance with an enforceable Manure Management Plan, replacing synthetic fertilizers and improving soil health on several thousand acres.

West River Dairy will operate under an Individual NPDES feedlot permit — one of the most stringent and site-specific permits in Minnesota. Most feedlots operate under general permits, but this approach requires detailed, site-specific review and oversight.

Riverview has also volunteered enhanced conditions that exceed baseline state standards, reflecting a commitment to going above and beyond what is required.

Caring for our land and natural resources is the right thing to do to ensure opportunities for generations to come.

Multiple state agencies oversee the design and ongoing operation of the project:

Air quality modeling by Barr Engineering confirmed compliance with all hydrogen sulfide and ammonia standards at property lines and neighboring residences.

After construction, the DNR completes annual reviews of well pumping and aquifer monitoring, and the MPCA completes annual reviews of the facility for compliance with operation and manure application requirements.

The expansion will create more than 40 permanent local jobs and hundreds of construction jobs during the 16–24-month build-out. It will provide a market for approximately 10,000 acres of locally grown crops and supply organic fertilizer for approximately 7,700 acres each year, reducing farmers’ reliance on costly synthetic fertilizers.

Yes. Riverview’s model emphasizes collaboration — creating opportunities for neighboring farmers through manure application partnerships, supporting local service providers, and contributing to economic stability across the region.

Riverview welcomes pre-scheduled tours and values open, honest communication with neighbors and community leaders.

Minnesota’s dairy cow population has declined from 1.47 million in 1950 to just 440,000 today. Even with this expansion, the state’s herd will remain far below historical levels.

Regionally, several milk processors have expanded recently (or are currently expanding), and the additional milk supply from West River Dairy’s expansion represents only a small fraction of the milk supply needed to fill those plants.

Regionally, an estimated 18 million pounds per day of new milk processing capacity has either recently been added or is slated to come online in the near future. Nationally, approximately $10 billion has been or is being invested in milk processing over approximately a six-year period.

Global demand for dairy products continues to grow while Europe’s dairy herd is projected to decline, creating a historic opportunity for U.S. dairy.