PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - - Mike Craffey lived next to the lakes in Sleepy Hollow for 39 years. As he walks along it, he can point out every bend, every landmark.
"It's been such a great place to raise our children," he said. "They learned all about pond life - - frogs, turtles and fish."
That's why Craffey and his 34 neighbors always took precautions when caring for their lawns and gardens.
But the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency says Big Sky Energy Inc. of Cambridge wasn't as careful when it drilled three gas wells late last fall upstream of Sleepy Hollow. Excessive run-off from the drilling site flowed into Sleepy Hollow's lakes, which flow into Hubbard Creek and on into the Ashtabula River.
"This drilling site is the worst erosion site I've ever seen," Jim Irwin of the Ohio EPA said Tuesday.
Consequently, the residents witnessed a huge fish kill late last week.
"We lost fish of all sizes - - blue gills to bass," Craffey said. "The whole bank was loaded with dead fish."
So much sediment from the drilling site ran into the lakes that, over a short period of time, the water turned brown and the depth was notably lowered, Irwin said.
"The (lake) water became so turbid, sunlight couldn't penetrate it," he said. "These fish basically suffocated in the ice cover."
But the landowner of the drilling site, Robert Barr, believes differently.
"The EPA guy is a liar and full of b.s.," he said. "The fish suffocated because the lake froze over and there's not enough water in the pond for all those fish."
Barr does not live on the property, but he plans to plant corn on it.
"It's my farm and I can do what I want with it," he said. "This is America."
Jay Cheslock of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the situation is under investigation. Water and soil samples, as well as photographs, are being taken and studied, he said.
Big Sky Energy failed to follow proper protocol at the drill sites, according to Plymouth Township zoning inspector, Wendy Flickinger.
"The residents are really upset," she said.
Flickinger contacted Gary Cole at ODNR about the situation.
"(The sites) were not done right," she said. "There were no roads to the wells, no sediment ponds ... ODNR told them to fix it."
When contacted by phone Tuesday, Big Sky officials said they're not responsible.
Local News
Related Photos
-
BILL WEST
Discussion
HUGE FISH KILL
Gas wells being blamed for the contaminated lakes in Sleepy Hollow
- Local News
-
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
-
Teenager accused of making threats to ’Bula school boss
A 16-year-old boy was arrested after he reportedly threatened the superintendent of the Ashtabula Area City Schools district during a meeting earlier this week, sheriff deputies said.
-
OHP will add 180 troopers to ranks in fall
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is looking for a few good men and women to join its ranks, trooper and recruiter Alan Dunbar said, and will hire 180 cadets this fall.
-
Conneaut man cited in crash that injured five people
A city man has been cited in a Tuesday afternoon traffic crash that injured five people, according to Police Chief Charles Burlingham.
-
Commissioners award county jail upgrade project
Commissioners on Tuesday awarded the county jail upgrade project to Grunwell-Cashero Co., a Cleveland business incorporated in Michigan.
-
Paving work to begin in ’Bula, more streets on list
Paving work soon will begin after City Council approved the city manager’s request Monday night to contract with Ronyak Brothers of Burton for $130,000 less than expected for the work.
-
Ashtabula County Community Action employees help elderly, disabled
Newman Rocco Sr. was resting in his recliner Wednesday morning when he saw the caravan of cars and pickups arrive across the street.
-
Virginia Rand delivers her last Star Beacon after 33 years
After more than 33 years, Virginia Rand has folded her last newspaper.
-
Harpersfield group needs help and donations for cleanup
The Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark needs some hard workers and green thumbs to help clean up and beautify the park, Friends of the Covered Bridge Metropark chairwoman Denise Weinmann said.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
