WILMINGTON, OH (June 22) -- No threat remains from a chemical spill that had closed the lake at Cowan Lake State Park to swimming, boating and fishing since Monday, and the park's lake and marina have been reopened for recreational use, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced this morning. The 1,800-acre park is located in Clinton County, between Wilmington and Cincinnati.
A CSX train derailment on Monday spilled large quantities of a lye-like compound into Cowan Creek, which flows into the state park lake. As a precaution, park officials had closed the lake to recreational users, while all other activities at Cowan Lake State Park -- including its popular campgrounds and vacation cabins -- remained open to the public.
This morning a task force of state and local health officials, ODNR park and wildlife officials, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and environmental consultants for CSX said that the contaminant had been either contained and removed or diluted by recent rains. ODNR wildlife officials, in consultation with the Ohio Department of Health, said that fish caught in Cowan Lake are unaffected by the spill and are safe to eat within existing Department of Health guidelines.
A small area of the lake, near the mouth of Cowan Creek, will remain off-limits to boaters for the next several days due to the presence of equipment brought in for the cleanup operation.
ODNR wildlife officers continue to investigate the extent of any damage to fish and other wildlife in the creek as a result of the spill in order to determine possible penalties for those found responsible.
Questions regarding Cowan Lake State Park should be directed to the park office at 937-289-2105.