CAPE MAY POINT — As the borough continues to address ecological factors affecting the complex ecosystem of Lake Lily, another concern is being addressed regarding complaints of children fishing on the lake.
“Clean Flo did a water sample in May, and the good news is that we have no harmful algae, which is fantastic,” Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans said June 10. “We generally have good water quality.”
Yunghans added that the lake has elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, as well as blue-green algae.
“What that means is it’s a better breeding ground for aquatic weed growth,” she said. “We want to keep that under control, as any algae has the potential to turn into [harmful algal blooms] and we will be watching that carefully.”
Clean Flo recommended another algae sample at the end of the summer, and Yunghans said they would consider adding another enzyme product called Bio Boost, which will be available next year.
“There is a lot more detail and reports to delve into and understand,” Yunghans said. “But we really need to keep in mind that we have two sources of nutrients that are feeding into the lake, internal and external sources.”
The internal sources include organic matter, vegetation and algae in the lake, which decompose. Yunghans explained that external sources include runoff that carries organic matter, such as animal waste and fertilizer.
“Because all the stormwater in our town feeds into the lake, it’s really important for us to keep that in mind and plan ahead for management,” she said, adding she plans to attend a seminar on controlling stormwater nutrients.
Yunghans added she and Public Works Supervisor Bill Gibson had continued discussing a test trial of lake mats, large, framed fabric mats that self-settle on the lake floor and block sunlight from reaching invasive aquatic plants, causing them to die off slowly.
“[We had] a great conversation with the two developers for those mats, so we understand how to install and maintain them. We’re in process with that,” Yunghans said. “I have a conference call with another group that has used the mats.”
Fishing on the lake
Borough resident Sandy Allison said she saw children fishing on the lake recently and asked commissioners how they are addressing enforcement of the prohibition.
Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger said May 27 that she was investigating the origins of the prohibition and the potential options available.
Mayor Anita VanHeeswyk said she received calls about the fishing and she went to speak with the children.
“I spoke with them and said I don’t want them to get in trouble, that there’s no fishing on the lake and they can be fined,” VanHeeswyk said. “They said they were allowed by the mayor to fish, and I said, ‘Well, I’m the mayor.’”
VanHeeswyk said fishing has been prohibited for a long time. noting she had received a call several days later about children fishing on the west side of the lake.
“I’ve heard several times that there are people in the borough telling them that they are allowed to fish,” VanHeeswyk said. “Clearly they are not; they are breaking the law.”
The state owns and regulates the water in the lake, as well as the groundwater at the lake and the shoreline. The shoreline border was deeded to the borough in 1941 to manage and preserve.
“When I was on the lake committee, we stocked the lilies and the fish,” VanHeeswyk said. “One of the issues with stocking the fish, we spoke with the Department of Environmental Protection, and they said they would give us the fish.”
VanHeeswyk said the DEP’s stipulation was the borough would also have to take trout for trout fishing season.
“We looked into that, and it looked like one of those times that people rushed bodies of water, so we turned down the trout,” she said, adding the administration was told the police could not enforce the no-fishing policy if there were no signs — which were subsequently purchased and installed.
Geiger said she has been discussing the issue with solicitor John Amenhauser, but she was not prepared to discuss it during that meeting.
“I’ve been putting research together on all the issues, deed restrictions, whether the borough can enforce and what some options may be,” Geiger said. “I will put it on the commissioners discussion for next [meeting] to discuss what some of our options are and whether indeed there is ever the ability to enforce the no fishing.”
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
