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Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment has ordered a Russell-area farm to better manage its manure stockpiles after a suspected spill into a tributary of the Castor River preceded mass deaths of marine wildlife that washed up on the banks of the waterway last week.

Ministry spokeswoman Kate Jordan said the farm, which is located near Embrun on the river, has been ordered to construct multiple berms, which prevent erosion, to better protect against such spills in the future. Soil remediation may also be necessary.

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The farm sits on a tributary to the Castor River, which runs for about 30 kilometres between Russell and Casselman, and the manure is suspected of spilling outside of a holding area and running down into the tributary before poisoning the Castor.

Residents of the area have been reporting massive numbers of fish, frogs and other river animals washing up on shores in recent days.

Jordan said the ministry is trying to mitigate the incident and prevent it from reoccurring.

However, she said charges could still be laid against the farmer for the spill at some point.