Moorestown Sets Aside $30,000 in Open Space Funding For Strawbridge Lake Clean Up

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown is ready to address a problem that has been growing at Strawbridge Lake.

Moorestown Council unanimously approved a resolution to take $30,000 from the Moorestown Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund to be used for environmental improvements at Strawbridge Lake Monday night.

The money will be used to pay Princeton Hydro to remove spatterdock that is covering the lake. In 2014, Chet Dawson, chair of Moorestown’s Environmental Advisory Committee (MEAC) presented a report showing that the water had between two and three times the amount of phosphorus deemed to be bad.

The presence of phosphorus encourages the growth of algae and other aquatic plant life deemed a nuisance. In the case of Strawbridge Lake, phosphorus has aided in the spread of algae and the growth of weeds.

At the time, Dawson suggested treating the lake using chemicals in 2015. Chemicals were used to treat an invasive bamboo like substance known as Japanese Knotweed, as well as spatterdock. However, last year’s contract didn’t allow Princeton Hydro enough time to remove the spatterdock as needed.

This year’s contract is instead percentage-based, meaning that 90 percent of the spatterdock will be removed, Mayor Phil Garwood said.

Garwood said the upper lake is “at critical mass” and treatment needs to be done this year, while the middle and lower lakes can wait until next year.

MEAC is working on a five-year plan for ongoing maintenance to clean up the lake.

Councilwoman Stacey Jordan added that by treating part of the lake this year, they can be sure that the treatment works and that the township isn’t just throwing money away.

Resident Ed Bague was critical of the township’s use of Open Space money for the project when those funds can be used to purchase raw land.

“We need more discussion on the use of these funds, but we still need to do the spatterdock removal,” Save The Environment of Moorestown (STEM) President Joe Ponessa said.

Garwood said the township had the support of STEM and the Open Space Committee to use Open Space funding for this project, but Moorestown must be careful not to overuse funding for maintenance.

“Strawbridge Lake is one of the most valuable open space assets in Moorestown, and this is a wise use for this funding,” Garwood said.

Work was expected to begin in the next few days.