Lake Hopatcong's Terrible Summer: Algae Blooms Could Ruin Season

HOPATCONG, NJ — “Write Lake Hopatcong off for the season.”

That’s the advice from one water expert, who says the widespread harmful algae bloom blanketing the lake in a thick, green covering could pose a season-long problem for lake-goers.
The bloom caused the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to take the unprecedented step of issuing a lake-wide advisory against entering, or even touching, the water for further notice, just days before the Fourth of July.

On the first full day of the advisory, Patch spoke to Mike Haberland, a county agent and an associate professor at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County and Burlington County, to answer some questions about how the bacteria affects humans, how this could be treated, and the outlook for your summer on the lake (hint: it’s not great).

Is the lake really closed?

Well, not totally.

The NJ DEP issued a harmful algae bloom recreational advisory, telling people to avoid touching the lake water entirely.

There is nothing in effect that prevents boaters from heading out into the lake, but the DEP is strongly urging you to avoid touching the water at all. That advisory would rule out all water sports, including swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, and kayaking.

You can still go into the water, but it's at your own risk. Boating is generally alright, but residents should use "common sense," officials said. Fishing is also generally okay, but fishers should not eat any of the fish they catch right now.

State Police will be on the lake this weekend to warn anyone coming into contact with the water about the risks, but will not be issuing tickets or summonses at this point, DEP officials said.

Why would algae cause such a large-scale closure?

Because it's not really algae, and what's going on in the lake could make you sick.

While it's colloquially referred to as algae, what's causing the mess on Lake Hopatcong are really cyanobacteria. Also called blue-green algae, the microscopic organisms can live in any type of water, and feed through photosynthesis. When there's an abundance of nutrients in the water and powerful sunlight, the cyanobacteria overproduce to cause the types of blooms we've been seeing on Lake Hopatcong this month.

An overgrowth of those bacteria can cause cyanotoxins, some of "the most powerful natural poisons known," Haberland, said.

It's not really that serious though, is it?

It can be. Exposure to the bacteria can cause rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, skin and eye irritation, and diarrhea and vomiting. Several people have already reported suffering skin rashes after coming into contact with lake water, officials said.

And that's just in humans. In pets, which are much more likely to drink contaminated water, the results can be far worse.

Haberland once saw dog owners throwing a tennis ball into a “Wizard Of Oz, fluorescent green lake” for their dog to fetch, putting the dog in danger. And dogs are more likely to drink water that humans would avoid.

“Humans, I hope, are not stupid enough to drink green water,” Haberland said.

“You may think you’re stronger [than the bacteria], but why would you want to [find out]?” Haberland posed.

If you or your pet become exposed, clean the affected area with fresh water. If you swallowed any, contact your doctor, poison control, or your pet's veterinarian.

Signs of cyanobacteria poisoning in pets include: loss of appetite, loss of energy, vomiting, stumbling and falling, foaming at the mouth, diarrhea, convulsions, excessive drooling, tremors and seizures, or any other unexplained sickness after being in contact with water.

In serious cases of exposure, the cyanobacteria attacks the liver and can kill animals in several hours, Haberland said.

Long term exposure, particularly from drinking, can cause cancers of the liver and bladder, DEP officials said. Any effects can be more severe in vulnerable populations, including children, the eldrly, and the immunocompromised.

When will this be over?

That’s hard to say, but the outlook isn’t great.

“It’s a terrible summer for aquatic sports” on Lake Hopatcong, Haberland warned. “Write [the lake] off for this summer.”

Cyanobacteria is tricky. Because they have swim bladders, similar to fish, they can position themselves at different depths in the water. One day they bloom might be gone, and then you could wake up the next morning with a green lake, Haberland said.

Because these blooms are so widespread so early in the season, they are likely to be a summer-long problem. The NJ DEP confirmed on Friday that there is a possibility this will persist into the fall. A number of areas in the lake still have too-high levels of bacteria, but the northern stretch of the lake is showing some approvements.

I know there's a warning to not go in the water, but can you get in trouble for swimming anyway?

You could legally ignore the signs if you wanted to, but because of all the health risks associated with exposure, you should not do that.

“It’s not like the cops are going to be out there telling you to get out. You’re going at your own risk,” Jefferson Mayor Eric Wilsusen told NJ.com.

How common are harmful algae blooms?

They’ve become fairly common in the past two or three years, Haberland said, but remain a new phenomenon. Before this, outbreaks in Lake Hopatcong were limited to just a few coves.
In fact, a bloom of this size is entirely unprecedented. This is the first time a large-scale harmful algae bloom has caused an advisory on the entirety of Lake Hopatcong, a DEP spokesperson confirmed to Patch.

The NJ DEP reported 21 harmful blooms in 2017, and another 20 in 2018. Blooms usually happen later in the season, closer to fall, but several have already been reported so far this year, including in Swartswood Lake.

How did it get so bad, so early?

It’s hard to say exactly, Haberland said, but it was likely a combination of factors: high amounts of rain water drawing nitrogen rich oxygen into the lake, warm temperatures, sunlight, and calm waters.

Those factors create a “crock pot” that encourage the growth of the bacteria, Haberland said. The best times to enjoy the lake are also the easiest times for bacteria to grow, between June and August.

Can you tell if there are cyanotoxins in the water just by looking at it?

Unfortunately not, but you can definitely tell if there are bacteria and should avoid any water with the bacteria. The cyanobacteria blooms can take on different looks (Lake Hopatcong's appears green in photographs), and there are no instant tests to check for toxins produced from the bacteria. Bacteria will look "scummy," and dying bacteria will often let off a foul smell, so if the water looks or smells bad, it's best to steer clear.

Can you do anything to treat this?

You can, but it’s tricky. Breaking the cell wall of the cyanobacteria releases the toxins within, which can cause a larger problem than you started out with. Copper algicides can kill the bacteria, but they also break the cell wall, Haberland said.

Ultrasonic transducers, on the other hand, use sonic waves (similar to ultrasound machines) to burst the swim bladder inside of the bacteria. Without that swim bladder, the bacteria sink to the bottom of the lake, and, because sunlight can’t reach the bottom, the bacteria die.

That approach would be tedious on a lake the size of Lake Hopatcong, but works well on smaller lakes and reservoirs, Haberland said.

The best course of action is prevention for next summer. Monitor the water quality, and use different prevention methods, including ultrasonic, chemical, and underwater aeration, to make sure blooms don’t take hold for next season, Haberland said.

What if I really want to go swimming in a lake?

You're in luck! There are plenty of other public swimming lakes in New Jersey, including several options in North Jersey. Just to name a few, you can visit Round Valley Reservoir, Lake Waywayanda, and the Highlands Natural Pool. NJ.com has a list of most of the state's lake options.