SARATOGA, Wis (WSAU) More than 200 people attended last night's meeting on a mega-dairy that's being proposed in Saratoga. It was moved from the municipal building to the auditorium at town hall to accommodate the crowd.

UW-Stevens Point hydrologist George Kraft said the high capacity wells needed to run a large farm would have an impact. How much wouldn't be known until the farm's specific plans can be reviewed. He said it was a 'bedrock principle' that pumping groundwater lowers water levels and reduces stream flow.

He also said the DNR is still developing its rules for how much of a drop in the water tables is acceptable. And Kraft said if the project gets a permit and local residents object, their only option is to file a court challenge.

The permitting process for the proposed 3,500 cow farm off highways 73 and 13 could take two years. Last night's meeting was informational only. It wasn't a public hearing. No one from the proposed Golden Sands Dairy spoke.