This mountain of waste goes mostly into fertilizer, eventually washing into streams. Unfortunately, state and federal reports say most poultry farmers aren't doing much to keep the chicken waste from running off into creeks that eventually feed into the Potomac River. While not absolutely conclusive, there is strong evidence that this run-off is causing serious problems in the Potomac. American Rivers, a national environmental watchdog group, ranked the Potomac as one of the 10 most endangered rivers in North America. The group laid the blame on chicken and cattle pollution.
Many facts support that claim.
A U.S. Geological Survey found high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the Potomac Valley, with the highest levels occurring downstream from regions of poultry houses and cattle feedlots. Common sense would point the finger at poultry as a large factor in the problem. Alas, government regulators appear to reject common sense. We have to use scientific data. It just needs some common-sense interpretation.