Grace College‘s Dr. Nathan Bosch, director of the Center for Lakes and Streams, has been monitoring the situation at Winona Lake after substances from a fire at Warsaw Chemical on Friday were released into the lake. He is quoted in today’s Warsaw, Ind., Times-Union. A portion of the story appears below. Click here to read the complete article. (Subscription may be required.)

Winona Lake Clear, But Test Results Pending

WINONA LAKE – While the surfactants, perfumes and blue dyes released into the lake from the Warsaw Chemical fire Friday created surface foam, fragrant smells and blue coloration in the water and ice, the chemicals are not a current environmental concern, according to a release from the Center for Lakes & Streams.

Center Director Nate Bosch expressed cautious optimism on the health of the lake. No wildlife deaths have been attributed to the spill, oxygen levels are normal and there is no remaining discoloration or reduction of ice cover, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

But the advisory to limit activity on the lake from the state Department of Natural Resources remains in effect as of this morning.

Bosch noted a definitive analysis has not yet been done with an eye on the chemicals known to be used at the business. He expects lab results in the coming weeks and said the center will continue to test the water, comparing results to samples of spill water that entered Winona Lake.

He said his top environmental concern is methanol, an unknown amount of which washed into the water during firefighting efforts. Remaining levels won’t be known until he sees lab results, but he said oxygen levels appear promising.

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Click here to read the news release related to this spill from the Center for Lakes and Streams.