Merrillville official: About 100 fish found dead in lake

Director says residents have been stocking Bon Aire without permission

A heat wave combined with a chemical treatment for weeds proved to be deadly to some fish in Bon Aire Lake, according to the executive director of the Merrillville Stormwater Utility.

Matt Lake said about 100 fish died recently in an isolated incident in the 21-acre lake when the heat index rose to 110 degrees the day after the lake was treated for algae, duckweed and other noxious weeds.

“Some fish suffocated. It happens, primarily at the outlets of the lake,” Lake said.

He said another variable that could have contributed to the fish kill was the fact that some residents have been stocking the lake on the north end of town with an additional 300 to 400 fish, but he denied that the removal of aerating fountains was the cause, as some residents believe.

“About 100 fish died in that lake last year, the same as this year, and the fountains were running,” Lake said.

He said the fish that were stocked weren’t used to the conditions of the lake and may have died as a result.

Lake said the fish were stocked without the town’s permission, as required.

He also said there are signs posted around the lake warning people not to eat the fish caught there because the lake is treated with chemicals.

Harriet Pillow, who lives on a lake lot in the Bon Aire subdivision, said she hasn’t heard of anyone stocking fish.

She also said residents were upset that they weren’t told about the chemical treatment ahead of time.

“It’s a sad situation, killing anything that’s God’s creature. This affects everyone in the subdivision, whether they live on the lake or not,” Pillow said.

Pillow said she would like to see the fountains remain, but Lake said that won’t happen.

He said four fountains were purchased with grant money in 2000 for about $25,000 and have lately been regularly breaking down. He said they’re costing money in repairs and high electric bills.

Lake said the Bon Aire Lake was built in the 1960s as part of the Bon Aire development. The county owned the lake until 1986, when the town took over.

In another matter, Lake said work to lower the culvert on Taft Place should take place later this year, which should provide residents of the subdivision relief from flooded basements and yards.

Lake said the engineering company Butler, Fairman & Seufert has almost completed the design work. After that, the project will go out to bid, and the work would get underway once the bid is awarded.

“If we can lower the water level, we can get about 4 million more gallons of water storage there for flood protection. This would get some people out of a flood plain and save them potentially thousands of dollars in flood insurance costs,” Lake said.

He said the Merrillville Stormwater Utility has already spent about $50,000 on the engineering costs and would spend another couple hundred thousand dollars on the project itself.

The project is part of the utility’s master plan, and the money would come from stormwater fees that all residents pay.

The current culvert was put in about 15 inches higher than the previous one, causing the water issues.

Lake said the utility will conduct public meetings regarding the project.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.