WINONA LAKE - An oil spill was discovered by a Winona Lake resident Thursday afternoon, making the spill the second in the past two months on the lake.
Doug Miller, of 2400 E. Winona Avenue, discovered oil being released from a drainage pipe by Harbor Shore Condominiums along Winona Avenue about 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Miller said he contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 2 p.m. Thursday to notify them of the oil spill and he collected a water sample.An oil spill previously was discovered at the same location Feb. 20 by wastewater treatment employees who were checking storm water outfalls.
Miller also contacted Chris Cummins, vice president of the Winona Lake Preservation Association, to inform him of the oil spill.
Cummins said he saw an oil slick about 20 feet out from the drainage pipe and along the shoreline to the light at Argonne and Winona Avenue, and 15 feet out from the shore.
He said that about 3 p.m. Thursday the oil began to dissipate in the water due to the west wind and less water flow after Thursday morning's heavy rainfall.
Cummins said he believed rain from Thursday morning's rainfall mixed with oil drained into Winona Lake.
Rich Heckler, on-scene coordinator for Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said he arrived at the lake around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. DNR officers were not available at the time to assess the situation.
Heckler said in a phone interview this morning that the DNR deals with the care of birds, trees and fish, and IDEM deals with the care of water, dirt and air.
He said he found no visible indication of oil on the water and he did not conduct water sampling.
Heckler said many times after a heavy rain, water mixes with oil from vehicles in shopping and residential areas and enters into storm drains.
"It is not uncommon to find petroleum in water in a storm drain after a rainfall," Heckler said.
He said a sheen or a mirror effect can be visible on a body of water that is produced by petroleum or natural sources from oils from animals or plants.
A special meeting was held Wednesday night at the Winona Lake Senior Center to discuss water quality of Winona Lake.
Cummins attended the meeting along with Winona Lake council members, Warsaw city council members, Winona Lake residents, and representatives from DNR Conservation Services, Tippecanoe Environmental Lake & Watershed Foundation and Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District.
"It's ironic how water quality on Winona Lake was discussed the night before the oil spill occurred and there already has been another oil spill on the lake," Cummins said.
Cummins said the Winona Lake Preservation Association's annual meeting will he held April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Warsaw to continue to discuss water quality issues in Winona Lake.
