First NJDEP HABs grant project to begin next week

June 11, 2020| Environment

By: Lake Hopatcong Foundation/Lake Hopatcong Commission

Princeton Hydro, with an expected date of June 15, will begin treatment of Landing Channel with a phosphorus inactivating technology called Phoslock. This marks the first project to be implemented under the NJDEP HABs Grant awarded to the Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. The purpose of this project and all projects initiated under the grant is to evaluate innovative technologies to control, prevent, or mitigate HABs on Lake Hopatcong.  Treatment is expected to take approximately one week dependent on weather conditions.

Phoslock is a clay-based nutrient inactivating technology developed by the Australian national science agency, which binds with phosphorus in the water column or in lake sediment. Once phosphorus is inactivated it is unavailable as a vital nutrient for algal growth. By limiting algae and cyanobacteria which can produce cyanotoxins we hope to reduce the likelihood of HABs on the lake.  Phoslock is applied as a slurry and sprayed from a boat.  The slurry will temporarily make the water appear turbid but should disperse 2-6 hours after each treatment.  Phoslock application requires a permit from NJDEP prior to use.