CAPE MAY POINT — Over the past year, an ongoing private-public partnership among the borough, Friends of Lake Lily and the Cape May Point Taxpayers’ Association has been addressing ecological factors that affected the complex ecosystem.
The restoration project includes continued removal of invasive plants and their root systems, soil testing and preparation for landscaping with native species, as well as ongoing care and maintenance of the lake island centerpiece.
One aspect of lake maintenance includes installing a series of mats at the south end, where invasive aquatic plants are overgrown. The mats are 100 percent chemical-free and block the sunlight from reaching the lake floor, suppressing weed growth and, as a result, reducing the biomass in the lake.
“36 lake mats have been installed at the shallow south end of the lake to address the overgrown, invasive, aquatic vegetation,” Borough Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans said.
The mats are also safe for all wildlife, including the fish, frogs, turtles and ducks that call Lake Lily home.
Additionally, it was determined that the lake island is covered with invasive vegetation. During the winter, the borough applied to the New Jersey Forest Service for a prescribed burn of the invasive overgrowth on the island.
“An attempt was made last month by the New Jersey Forest Service to do a prescribed burn, [but] the island was too wet and would not burn, so it had to be manually cut down,” Yunghans said. “Our next task is to determine the best way to dispose of the debris pile and how to address the densely thatched roots of those overgrown invasives.”
Yunghans asked for patience as the process is labor-intensive.
Clean FLO will be back later this month to check and repair the bubblers and bring the spring/summer non-toxic enzymes that help control the muck and nutrient build up.
“They’ll also do a sonar scan and pull a water sample for testing,” she said.
The state of New Jersey owns and regulates the lake water, and Cape May Point has the responsibility to manage and preserve the lake and its shoreline, including the island.
“Please remember that Lake Lily is a Cape May Point historic treasure that deserves our diligent management,” Yunghans said. “This management is a dynamic process impacted by the weather, climate change including drought, stormwater runoff, impurities, wildlife excrement, aquatic weed overgrowth and oxygenation.”
Yunghans added that Lake Lily does double duty as a stormwater catchment basin, protecting the town from flooding.
Winter storm cleanup
Yunghans also reminded residents that the moratorium on removal permits for trees damaged by Winter Storm Hernando ended April 25.
The 60-day moratorium was put in place during a Feb. 24 meeting to allow residents to remove the debris and trees that could not be saved.
“After the moratorium ends, you must apply for a permit to remove a tree and follow the replanting guidelines,” Yunghans said. “To reiterate, please remember our tree removal and replacement ordinance was not created by whim, but was mandated by the state as a part of stormwater management regulations.”
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave