(22/P031) TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is working with the State Police to investigate vandalism to harmful algal bloom monitoring buoys in several northern New Jersey lakes, specifically the detachment of buoys from mooring lines, Commissioner Shawn announced today M. LaTourette.
“These buoys collect water quality data used to warn the public about harmful algal bloom conditions and improve our long-term understanding of these blooms,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “When someone removes a buoy without a buoy, they are putting this job at risk and putting boaters, personal watercraft users and other recreational lake users at risk of injury.”
“State Police marine and land units have increased patrols in the areas of these buoys, and we will prosecute anyone caught tampering with them to the fullest extent of the law,” said Col. Patrick J. Callahan, New Jersey Superintendent. State police. “We’re asking for the public’s help to put an end to this.”
Anyone with information about these incidents or seeing suspicious behavior is asked to contact the State Police at 609-882-2000 or the DEP hotline at 877-WARNDEP (877-927-6337).
“I am disappointed to learn of the recent vandalism to the monitoring buoys,” said 25th Legislative District Senator Anthony M. Bucco. “Maintaining the water quality in these lakes is extremely important to the recreation and businesses that surround our lake communities. These buoys are an important part of this process. I encourage anyone with information regarding the intentional destruction of these devices to report them to local authorities or the State Police.”
“As mayors of the Lake Hopatcong communities, we have worked hard over the past few years and have successfully cooperated with NJDEP since the initial harmful algal bloom in 2019,” said Jefferson Mayor Eric F. Wilsusen. “Monitoring the lake and communicating with the public about water quality issues related to a potential algal bloom is vital for everyone to make the best use of this valuable resource. Whoever intentionally vandalized the harmful algal bloom monitoring buoys does not have the best interest of our lake in mind and is doing the community a disservice.”
Since June of this year, there have been two incidents at Lake Hopatcong, one at Greenwood Lake and one, most recently, at Spruce Run Reservoir around the Fourth of July weekend. There were also two incidents in Lake Hopatcong last summer. In each case, the buoys were found.
Additionally, there were three incidents of damage that may have resulted from boats accidentally hitting the buoy. DEP reminds the boating public to be alert for buoys. The perimeter of each buoy is marked with safety paint.
DEP maintains a network of high-tech real-time monitoring buoys as part of a comprehensive response to harmful algal blooms to protect public health and tourism. They collect a wide range of water quality data, including phycocyanin pigments that are indicators of harmful algal blooms, turbidity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, chlorophyll and pH.
A growing global problem due to climate change, harmful algal blooms are not caused by true algae, but rather by cyanobacteria that in many ways resemble and behave like algae. These cyanobacteria occur naturally in fresh waters and can multiply to unhealthy levels in sunlight and hot weather, forming dense mats that resemble pea soup or spilled paint.
Exposure to cyanobacterial cells can cause a variety of mild to moderate health effects, including rash, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, gastroenteritis, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation. Accidental ingestion of water containing the toxins these bacteria can produce, known as cyanotoxins, can result in more serious health effects such as liver toxicity and neurological effects. Children and pets are more vulnerable because they consume more water relative to their size.
For more information on harmful algal blooms and the state’s interactive harmful algal bloom mapping tool, visit https://www.nj.gov/dep/hab/
Follow Commissioner LaTourette on Twitter and Instagram @shawnlatur and follow DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP, Facebook @newjerseydep, Instagram @nj.dep and LinkedIn @newjerseydep
