Use of manure basins to store animal wastes is common practice throughout Minnesota due to their effectiveness and relatively cheap construction costs. Manures within these basins are a valuable source of nutrients for crops, however they must be managed appropriately to protect water resources. Some contaminants found within animal manures can pose a potential human or environmental health risk. One area of manure management which has not been thoroughly investigated is the risk posed by manure basins to water resources upon closure. In cooperation with a larger study being administered by the Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, a risk assessment was performed of eight manure basins. The risk assessment determined the amount and forms of contaminants present, documented changes in water quality, and assessed the overall human or environmental health risks associated with manure basin closure, if any. Initial sampling data from two sites suggests that contaminant levels near the basin do not greatly exceed background levels as hypothesized. Further investigation is necessary to determine risks associated with the overall project.