Volunteer harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring results

December 03, 2021| Environment, People

By: Donna Macalle-Holly

Join us on Tuesday, December 14, at 8 pm, when the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) will present their findings from the 2021 volunteer Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) monitoring and reporting project in the Musconetcong River Watershed during the Musconetcong River Management Council (MRMC).  The virtual meeting can be viewed HERE.  

Volunteer HAB Monitoring

Volunteer HAB monitoring training was held on a cold and blustery day last May outside at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club. Beginning in June, volunteers monitored for HABs on Lake Hopatcong as part of a project overseen by the MWA and coordinated jointly with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and Lake Hopatcong Commission. 

To monitor, volunteers were provided with a Turner Fluorosense meter, thermometer, Secchi disk, data recording sheet, and other supplies.  They conducted the HAB monitoring at 15 sites weekly on the Lake submitting their findings to the MWA.  If meter readings were consistently above 11, volunteers also reported a potential HAB to NJ DEP and provided photos.   

When asked about the HAB monitoring program, Kira Sudol said, “The reason I got involved in the HABs volunteer work with the LHF is because the health of the lake is important to all us. Whether you’re a homeowner like me who boats regularly on the water or a business that relies on summer months for tourism, monitoring the lake is crucial to everyone.”

“We are so appreciative of the dedication and efforts of these volunteers during the inaugural year for this important project,” said Donna Macalle-Holly, LHF Grants and Program Director. “Volunteers monitored from the shoreline or used their own vessels and one volunteer continued to monitor into November.”

A special thank you to volunteer Rob Bond for putting together the below short video of the HAB monitoring volunteer effort. 

HAB Testing Highlights from Rob Bond on Vimeo.