Lake Zurich surprised by EPA order

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Lake Zurich to stop allowing sediment from Mionske Pond to flow into the village's namesake lake.

"We were really surprised the U.S. EPA did that," Village Administrator John Dixon said. "We have a proposal that we're working on."

The order, issued Sept. 10, also states the village must have a plan to prevent the discharge in 45 days. The village said it will have a final proposal in a month.

Mionske Pond, just south of Main Street in the village, serves as a retention pond for storm water that runs off nearby land.

And though Illinois Department of Transportation construction on Route 22 contributed, issues with sediment in the pond have been around for some time, the EPA said.

"It's been a problem in the past," said Bill Jones, the wet weather program manager for the EPA's water division. Sediment can damage the water's ecosystem, he added.

"The sediment can interfere with fish habitat," Jones said. "We're looking for the city and IDOT to take steps to address the sediment discharge."

Marisa Kollaris, IDOT spokeswoman, said IDOT is "still discussing the plans for dredging Mionske with the village" but has offered to pay half the dredging cost.

Rich Sustich, president of the Lake Zurich Property Owners Association, said he too was surprised by the EPA order but hopes it will spur action.

"We also know that it's complex," Sustich said. "(But) we still believe this should have been done a long time ago."