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    New Jersey's largest lake trials Phoslock
    Phoslock Europe • Jul 17, 2020
    The largest freshwater body in New Jersey just 40 miles northwest of Manhattan, NYC, Hopatcong Lake suffered large-scale and persistent HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) over the course of the 2019 summer season resulting in the closing of all beaches, creating significant negative impacts on the ecological, recreational, and economic resources of the lake.  
    Authorities needed to develop both short and long-term management strategies for the lake as soon as possible, resulting in a trial application of Phoslock.

    “The negative effects of HABs in our lake last year were numerous, widespread, and in some cases devastating,” recalled Donna Macalle-Holly of Lake Hopatcong Foundation. “It is imperative for every stakeholder to pool our resources to keep it from happening again. Collaboration is the only way to protect public health, as well as the health of New Jersey’s largest lake.”
    Late summer sunlight on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey

    In June this year, the water resource engineering and natural resource management firm, Princeton Hydro - a lake management consultant to Lake Hopatcong for over two decades—were tasked with implementing the first and largest innovative measure as part of the NJDEP HABs grant-funded project. This involved treating 20 hectares of the southern end of the lake with Phoslock. 


    “If this technology is deemed successful and cost-effective in Lake Hopatcong, we could set the precedent for large-scale HABs prevention in other lakes throughout New Jersey, and even across the nation” said Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatic Resources at Princeton Hydro and leading HABs expert.


    As part of the NJDEP HABs grant funding, the stakeholder group will be evaluating the relative effectiveness of this treatment strategy. Because of its shallow depth and separation from the main lake, the Landing Channel area was a good candidate for evaluation of this technology. Princeton Hydro will conduct pre- and post-treatment monitoring of the Phoslock treatment area in order to conduct an objective evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the treatment as a means of preventing the development and/or mitigation of HABs. If the study indicates that Phoslock is a cost-effective treatment, the Lake Hopatcong Commission may consider additional trials in other sections of the lake, if funding is available.


    "The proliferation of algal blooms has become an increasingly urgent problem. Climate change prompts changing weather conditions that encourage cyanobacteria; New Jersey is one of the fastest warming states in the nation", NJ.com reports, "and increasingly higher average temperatures make it easier for the blooms to thrive throughout the year. An influx of phosphorus, often caused by agricultural fertilizer and organic waste in sewage and industrial overflow, develops the cyanobacteria until it grows large enough to take over entire freshwater bodies — for example, a little over 80% of Lake Hopatcong’s phosphate load comes from stormwater and septic systems.".

    Phoslock Europe • Jul 17, 2020

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    Small waters have a Big impact

    by BBC News - Science & Environment • 02 Dec, 2020
    Let us not ignore the significance of all the ponds, ditches and streams say a group of 20 scientists to the UK government's 'Natural Capital' committee

    Behlendorfer See, Germany: Eleven years on - highly desirable aquatic plant species have returned to the lake ..."a very positive sign showing that the lake is improving ecologically"

    by Phoslock Europe • 26 Oct, 2020
    Nearly 11 years after being treated, the Behlendorfer See near the city of Lübeck in Northern Germany is still reaping the benefits of Phoslock. The 63ha, 15m deep lake, which received a single treatment in 2009, had suffered from nutrient enrichment for many years from its predominantly agricultural catchment. As a result, the lake experienced regular blue-green algal blooms which led to a reduced aquatic plant community. Consequently, the lake was not meeting European legislation for ‘good ecological status’ outlined by the Water Framework Directive (WFD).  Several catchment management measures were initiated to help improve its water quality. However, the impact of years’ worth of nutrients entering the lake had taken its toll and the lake failed to recover due to ongoing release of phosphorus from the lake sediments, a process called internal loading. A Phoslock application of 214 tonnes was applied in in December 2009 to an area of approximately 40ha which was deeper than 7m.

    Update: Lake Pampulha, Brazil - Promising water quality improvements after four years of regular Phoslock applications

    by Phoslock Europe • 19 Oct, 2020
    After four years of regular Phoslock applications, Lake Pampulha is showing promising water quality improvements. Lake Pampulha is a tourist hotspot which lies in southeastern Brazil within the urban area of one of Brazil’s largest cities, Belo Horizonte. Since the 1970s, urbanization has led to a decline in its water quality making the system very nutrient-rich. This UNESCO world heritage site has experienced regular cyanobacterial blooms since the 1980s due to nutrients entering the system. The lake was historically used as a water supply reservoir for the City of Belo Horizonte, however the use of the reservoir for potable water supply was stopped some years ago due to the ongoing issues with cyanobacterial blooms.
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