SC Stands With Congressman Gottheimer to Clean Up Greenwood Lake

The NJ Sierra Club joined Congressman Gottheimer at a press conference regarding clean up efforts of Greenwood Lake. Earlier this month, Governor Murphy absolute vetoed S2167 (Pennacchio/Webber/Pinkin). The bill dedicates $500,000 annually in revenues from vessel registration and renewal fees to NJ Greenwood Lake Fund. In his statement, Murphy wrote “contrary to the assertions made in the bill and its four accompanying committee statements, the Greenwood Lake Fund would in no way support the purpose of the Maritime Industry Fund, which is utilized by the Commissioner of Transportation to improve water transportation systems for the movement of people and goods.”

“Now that Governor Murphy has vetoed funding for Greenwood Lake, we need to come up with an interim funding source. Greenwood Lake is a critical water supply for the state. It is not only a source for the Wanaque and Monksville Reservoir systems, but it is a back-up water supply source. Last summer we had a crisis with lakes being closed due to harmful algae blooms. With climate change and stormwater runoff, things will only get worse,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Greenwood Lake is finally clean enough to swim in, but now the only thing we can do is go ice fishing if the ice gets thick enough. Next summer is right around the corner. If we don’t get the money soon we will not have time to deal with the problems for this coming season.” 

According to NJDEP testing and sampling of Greenwood Lakes Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) last summer, all areas of the lake indicated levels of Cyanobacteria Counts cells/mL at levels higher than the NJ Health Guidance Levels. Areas that saw an increase in algae included, Mid-Lake North: 69,750, Browns Point: 76,250, and Greenwood Lake Beach Association: 85,500. Areas that saw a drop in algal were Mid-Lake Center: 45,625, Lakeside Community Beach: 24750, Awosting Beach: 56,750, and the Outlet: 21,000. 

“When the Governor vetoed the Greenwood Lake Bill, he basically told us to go jump in the lake. The problem is, we can’t swim in it until we clean it up. We need funding, but we also need a comprehensive lake management plan. The algae crisis in Greenwood Lake is a serious problem. It took until after Thanksgiving for the harmful algal blooms to go down. Now we can finally swim in the lake, but we may have to go ice fishing instead. Greenwood Lake is a major recreational lake and source of drinking water for the people of New Jersey. Having it closed this summer showed the failure of the state’s policies to protect our lakes and reservoirs,” said Tittel. “Even though it’s the middle of winter, algae is still living in Greenwood lake. We need to start cleaning the lake now, otherwise we will see even worse problems this summer.”

When he vetoed the Greenwood Lake Funding bill, Governor Murphy proposed alternative funding. He stated, “fortunately, funding may already be available to support many of the bill’s laudable goals. In November, my Administration, along with several of our congressional partners, announced that New Jersey would allocate more than $13 million in State and federal funding to lakeside communities to reduce and prevent harmful algal blooms.

“We need a comprehensive lake management plan to address our algae crisis. Last year there were over 50 bodies of water in New Jersey that were closed or under advisory for high levels of cyanobacteria. Murphy needs to repeal Christie’s rollbacks to protect our lakes and reservoirs. We need DEP to establish stream buffers and enforce Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards that limit pollutants in our lakes. We need tougher stormwater management to limit the use of lawn fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus. New Jersey also needs to limit development and sprawl and environmentally sensitive areas,” said Tittel. “The $13.5 million released by DEP to help tackle our algae problem is a start, but it is only a drop in the bucket for what is needed. Towns will have to fight for funding, so it may not even go toward the Greenwood Lake Fund.”

Freshwater HABs are formed from bacteria carried in by nutrients primarily from septics and lawn and garden fertilizer. The algae can cause severe skin rashes. If swallowed the polluted water can cause abdominal pain, headaches and vomiting. Pets should also be kept away from water where the algae blooms are present.

“The Murphy Administration needs to act fast when it comes to cleaning up and preventing harmful algae blooms. There needs to be more funding and grant opportunities for towns and impacted communities. The state also needs to take action now on strengthening standards that limit fertilizer, pollution, and more. Climate impacts will only get worse and we need to protect the lakes and rivers we swim in, but more importantly the reservoirs that we drink from. We need a holistic and integrated approach by communities, towns and the state,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Because of climate change and runoff pollution, the Murphy Administration has to take stronger action on cleaning up our lakes so that we have places to swim in.”