Public forum on HABs Impact on NJ Lake Communities

A Forum on Harmful Algal Bloom
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
7:30 PM – 10 PM
Lake Mohawk Country Club
21 Lake Mohawk Country Club Boardwalk
Sparta Township, NJ 0787

Ticket (This is a free event)

https://bit.ly/2GMWO74

This July 8th and July 22nd the Lake Hopatcong Commission was overwhelmed with attending residents from four municipalities located on the Lake Hopatcong shores. They eagerly awaited to get more info and exchange their environmental observations. Attendants were squeezed into a crash summary course on Harmful Algal Bloom -HAB. The presentation given on HABs by Princeton Hydro was a limited segment on the Commission meeting’s agenda and had a tight reach. This has left many who live in recreational freshwater areas still uninformed on the causes and threats of HAB.

The HAB occurrences this summer have foreseeable or potential impact on other lake communities found in Sussex County - NJ Skylands regions besides Lake Hopatcong. These extended areas will have the opportunity of a learning public forum. This forum is being presented by New Jersey Highlands Coalition, Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, and ANJEC.

The panel topics will include:

• What is a HAB (Harmful Algal Bloom) and what are the causes?
• Why are beaches on public lakes being closed to the public?
• Is the public health threat real?
• How can we fix the problem and prevent it happening again in the future?

Panel Speakers are:

• Christopher Obropta, PhD, P.E., (Rutgers Water Resources Program)
• Steven Souza, PhD., P.E., (Founder, Princeton Hydro)
• James Cosgrove, Jr., P.E., (Vice President, Kleinfelder)

All are welcomed to join this public forum . The panel’s expectations from this event is to answer the concerned publics questions with effective responses to HABs especially New Jerseys currently, or potentially, affected lakes.