Nearly 11,000 fish across 25 species died in Basin Run, a small but ecologically vital stream in Cecil County, Maryland, after a manure lagoon at Kilby Farms overflowed in early October 2026. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) identified the Kilby Farms dairy as the source, calling the incident "unacceptable" and confirming the discharge occurred despite an ongoing legal battle over prior violations. This event marks a significantly larger ecological disaster than a similar fish kill at the same facility in 2025.
The creek, known locally for its wild trout population and flow into the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, was lined with dead fish for more than four miles, stretching from Kilby Farms to Octoraro Creek. Chris Thomas, a lifelong neighbor who grew up on Basin Run, described the scene as worse than anything he had previously witnessed, noting foamy water, a pervasive stench, and the presence of dead minnows, trout, and eels. He waded into the stream with MDE inspectors to assess the damage, which extended well beyond the initial discharge point.
The incident has intensified legal pressure on Kilby Farms, which already faces a lawsuit from the MDE for alleged repeated discharges of manure and pollutants in violation of a 2025 settlement. The dairy, which houses hundreds of cows but lacks permit coverage under Maryland law, has been found by state regulators to have significantly reduced water quality and biodiversity downstream. The MDE has now requested that a judge hold the facility in civil contempt for continued violations, with a hearing set for October 13 in a Cecil County courtroom.
Neighbors and environmental advocates have expressed growing frustration over the recurring pollution, with many taking to social media to demand action. Larry McCracken Jr., a long-time resident, acknowledged the long history of issues on the property but emphasized the need for solutions that do not harm individual livelihoods. Meanwhile, neither Ben Flahart, the Pennsylvania farmer who owns the dairy, nor his attorney Anthony Gorski responded to inquiries about the latest fish kill. Gorski has previously disputed the state's findings, arguing that upstream pollution from a different tributary contributes to the contamination and that many issues on the property predate Flahart's 2017 acquisition.
The October 13 civil contempt hearing will be a critical juncture in the case, as the MDE seeks to enforce the preliminary injunction and ensure Kilby Farms ceases discharging pollutants into Basin Run. The outcome of the hearing could determine whether the state escalates its legal actions or if the dairy faces additional penalties for continued non-compliance.