Swimming or touching the water was banned at several water sites, but a new report says the problem has been bigger than you’d think.
By Tom David, Patch staff
NEW JERSEY – Swimming or touching the water was banned at several New Jersey water sites this summer, but a new report says the problem has been bigger than you’d think over the past 12 years.
Researchers at the Environmental Working Group, an activist nonprofit group, have just released a report identifying 10 water sites – in addition to at least eight spots identified by state and county agencies –that have had trouble with a harmful toxins often cased by algae blooms over the past decade.
The report documents the detection of “microcystins” in water sites over the past 12 years, but still could cause problems in the near future. Microcystins are a class of toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria, which state and county officials say has been blooming at several New Jersey swimming sites this summer.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has been taking action by either shutting down the beaches or issuing advisories to minimize the risk of toxic blue-green algae.
At least one of those sites identified – the Manasquan Reservoir – helps provide 60 percent of the potable water used in Brielle, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, and Wall Township, according to the New Jersey Water Supply Authority website.
The EWG report, however, shows additional locations that have had a detectable presence of toxins. EWG derived results from publicly available records from the Environmental Protection Agency; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a number of states.
Acute illnesses caused by exposure to cyanotoxins can happen, the state Department of Environmental Protection says. After short-term exposures, the toxins can cause liver and kidney damage. Livestock and pets could be particularly vulnerable, and contact with the water could be fatal to animals.
“Microcystins are poisonous toxins that can form in blooms of blue-green algae,” the EWG report says. “In recent years, algae blooms – actually microscopic bacteria called cyanobacteria – have erupted in hundreds of lakes nationwide, putting at risk Americans whose drinking water comes from those lakes, or who swim, ski or fish in them.”
The EWG report identified theses sites where toxins have been identified:
- Highland Lake, Sussex County
- Lake Washington, Passaic County
- Maple Lake, Estell Manor, Atlantic County
- Mount Hope Lake, Morris County
- Orange Reservoir, Essex County
- Packanack Lake, Passaic County
- Panorama Lake, Sussex County
- Round Valley Reservoir, Clinton Township, Hunterdon County
- Swimming spot near Schooley’s Mountain in Morris County
- Swimming River Reservoir, Monmouth County
State and county agencies, meanwhile, have also closed these sites because of algae blooms and harmful bacteria:
Manasquan Reservoir
A harmful algae bloom has prompted authorities to ban swimming and other water activities at Manasquan Reservoir until further notice. Drinking water pulled from the reservoir is being treated to remove the algae and any of its byproducts, a New Jersey Water Supply Authority official said.
Read more: Algae Bloom Closes Manasquan Reservoir To Swimming, Boating
Lake Hopatcong
A widespread, harmful algal bloom blanketed New Jersey’s largest lake in a thick, green covering that could pose a season-long problem for lake-goers.
The bloom caused the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to take the unprecedented step of issuing a lake-wide advisory against entering, or even touching, the water for further notice, just days before the Fourth of July. The lake has since reopened.
Read more: Lake Hopatcong’s Terrible Summer: Algae Blooms Could Ruin Season
Greenwood Lake
Harmful bacteria levels from algae bloom at Greenwood Lake were up to 10 times higher than what is recommended by the state, test results taken from the lake show. Read more: Greenwood Lake Bacteria Levels 10X Higher Above Safe Level
Spruce Run Recreation Area
The Clinton swimming area has been shut down for nearly the entire season. There is no swimming until further notice.
People were told to not drink or have contact with the water including, but not limited to, swimming, wading and water sports. Fish caught in this waterbody should not be eaten. Pets should not drink the water.
Swartswood State Park
The swimming section of the lake in Swartswood State Park was closed during the summer after a harmful algae bloom was detected. The park was ultimately reopened once the bloom subsided.
Park-goers were once again told to not have any contact with the water, including swimming, wading, water sports, and drinking.
In addition to the algae bloom, Duck Pond Trail and some parts of Spring Lake Trail have been closed because of flooding.
Read more: Algae Bloom Closes Sussex Co. Swimming Lake
These areas have also been under an advisory:
- Lake Mohawk in Sparta
- Deal Lake in Asbury Park
- Sunset Lake in Asbury Park
