Legal action
Protecting Washington & Ozaukee County Water Resources from Agricultural Pollution
(Rob-n-Cin Farms Permit Challenge)
Case Status: Active
After the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a permit allowing Rob-n-Cin Farms—a large dairy farm located in the Town of Trenton in Washington County—to become a permitted concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), MEA initiated legal action on behalf of Milwaukee Riverkeeper and a group of neighbors living near Rob-n-Cin’s three production facilities.
CASE SUMMARY
On November 26, 2025, Midwest Environmental Advocates initiated legal action challenging a permit issued by the Wisconsin DNR to Rob-n-Cin Farms—a large dairy operation in the Town of Trenton in Washington County. The farm, which has been operating as a CAFO for years without a permit, now plans to expand from approximately 1,300 to 2,000 cows. The expansion endangers local groundwater, trout streams and wetlands.
The petition for a contested case hearing filed by MEA and Milwaukee Riverkeeper raises serious red flags about the DNR’s permit, including:
- No groundwater monitoring
- Inadequate environmental review
- Missing manure-spreading agreements
- Rob-n-Cin’s history of noncompliance
- Risks to Cedar Creek, dozens of local streams, the Milwaukee River and the Cedarburg Bog
MEET OUR CLIENTS
MEA filed the petition on behalf of Milwaukee Riverkeeper and nearby residents who are deeply concerned about impacts to water, air, local roads, and small farms. Community opposition has grown especially strong since the DNR discovered the farm had already expanded without authorization.
Cheryl Nenn
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
If allowed to move forward, Rob-n-Cin would generate more than 18 million gallons of liquid manure every year, to be spread across eastern Washington County and western Ozaukee County—an area already home to vulnerable groundwater, trout streams, wetlands, and the Cedarburg Bog. In particular, the farm’s operations are likely to impact Cedar Creek and dozens of streams that drain to the Milwaukee River, as well as the Cedarburg Bog—one of one of southeastern Wisconsin’s largest and most ecologically intact wetlands and a designated State Natural Area and National Natural Landmark.
The DNR acknowledges that large CAFOs like Rob-n-Cin cannot completely eliminate groundwater and surface water pollution. Under state law, however, a permit may be issued as long as the level of pollution doesn’t violate state water quality standards. Despite that requirement, the Rob-n-Cin permit includes no groundwater monitoring at the production area or at manure-spreading sites.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: THE CEDARBURG BOG
Learn more about MEA's work to prevent agricultural pollution
LEGAL VICTORY! State regulators must strengthen environmental oversight of Pierce County livestock operation
MEA clients in Pierce County have won a major victory in a three-year fight to protect their community from the impacts of a major expansion at Ridge Breeze Dairy. On August 24, an administrative law judge ruled that a DNR permit allowing the farm to expand its herd to more than 6,000 cows failed to ensure compliance with Wisconsin’s groundwater quality standards.
Protecting Paradise: How residents of the Rush River Valley are taking action to defend the place they love
MEA client Kay Kashian and her husband Phil own Milkhouse Cottage and Gardens, a small rural retreat in Pierce County. Visitors come for the clean water, quiet beauty, and sense of place that defines the Rush River Valley—qualities Kay and Phil have worked hard to preserve and share. Plans for a massive expansion at nearby Ridge Breeze Dairy now put all of that at risk. With representation from MEA, Kay and other local residents are challenging a key permit for the project and demanding that state regulators do more to protect local groundwater and surface water.
MEA Joins Call for Stronger Action on Nitrate Pollution
This week, MEA joined more than 80 organizations nationwide in calling on federal agencies to take stronger action to address nitrate pollution and protect public health. We are urging federal regulators to investigate regulatory failures and respond to growing evidence linking nitrate contamination to serious health risks.
New MEA Toolkit Helps Local Governments Understand Options for Regulating Large Livestock Operations
A new MEA toolkit gives Wisconsin towns a starting point for drafting and enacting ordinances that strengthen local oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
MEA and Milwaukee Riverkeeper Announce Legal Action After DNR Approves Controversial Expansion of West Bend Dairy Farm
MEA initiated legal action after the DNR issued a permit for the expansion of a large dairy farm located in the Town of Trenton in Washington County. DNR approval ignores the farm’s past environmental violations and endangers local groundwater, trout streams and wetlands.
MEA Calls for Increased Oversight of Door County Livestock Operation with History of Environmental Violations
In formal comments submitted to the Department of Natural Resources, MEA outlined serious concerns regarding the agency’s plan to issue a permit for the expansion of Gilbert Farms, a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) near the town of Sevastopol in Door County