NJ Plans To Fight Harmful Algal Blooms With New Legislation

NEW JERSEY — A bill making its way through New Jersey’s Assembly will allocate $10 million in funding to lake conservation groups like the Lake Hopatcong Commission, Greenwood Lake, the Lake Topanemus Park Commission and Deal Lake Commission, to fight harmful algal blooms; and further spearhead lake management efforts in the state’s lakes.

Assemblymen Hal Wirths, R-24th Dist. and Brian Bergen, R-25th Dist., each co-sponsored bill A5778, with its companion Senate Bill S3618, having already unanimously passed in New Jersey’s Senate, its next stop onto the Speaker’s desk.

Harmful algal blooms or “HABs” caused difficulties in Lake Hopatcong in 2019, with New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection imposing a swimming ban on the lake for most of the summer in 2019.

HABs returned in 2020 to Lake Hopatcong’s Crescent Cove, but not to the extent that they had the prior year.

The cyanotoxins within the cyanobacteria that make lakes unsafe to swim in when HABs are present, can trigger headaches, skin rashes, sore throats and abdominal pain. They are additionally known to be hazardous to the health of pets and wildlife.

“Businesses and communities surrounding our state lakes really need a successful summer this year,” said Wirths.

Wirths cited the blooms in 2019 followed with COVID-19 issues in 2020, were both traumatic for lake communities.

“It’s more important now than ever to invest in programs that will preserve our freshwater lakes,” he said.

“Lakes like Hopatcong are an economic resource for an entire region,” Bergen added.

Bergen said the summer season is the greatest time for a revenue boost to lake communities.

“Preventing and managing harmful algal blooms is critical to ensuring a safe environment for swimmers and a prosperous season for small businesses,” said Bergen.

Swartswood Lake in Sussex County, Spruce Run Reservoir in Hunterdon County, Manasquan Reservoir in Monmouth County, Glen Rock Pond in Bergen County and Warren County’s Mountain Lake, Wirths and Bergen said, have already battled swimming restrictions from HABs in the 2021 season.

If both bills pass, the legislation will advance to Governor Phil Murphy for his signature.

This post contains reporting by Russ Crespolini and Katie Kausch.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.