Superstorm Sandy had a widespread but "largely overlooked" impact on New Jersey coastal lakes, according to an environmental expert.
Coastal lakes are "getting very little attention," according to a PowerPoint presentation by Stephen J. Souza of Princeton Hydro LLC at Monmouth University.
The university's Urban Coast Institute hosted a Coastal Lakes Summit on Feb. 12.
The lakes - located in northern Monmouth to northern Ocean counties - are prominent local freshwater resources and important from recreational and aesthetic standpoints, according to Souza's presentation.
Most of the lakes are linked to the Atlantic Ocean and most of them, historically, were estuaries, according to the presentation.
Here are many of the points in Souza's presentation, which was provided to me by Urban Coast Institute staffers (thanks, Lauren and Tony!):
- Sandy had an impact on most of the coastal lakes, and most of the impacts were caused by the storm surge instead of stormwater runoff-related flooding from the lakes' watersheds.
- While coastal areas and beaches are getting attention, impacts on the lakes have been largely overlooked so far.
- Sandy had potentially acute and chronic impacts on lake water quality, ecology and recreational uses. The storm also affected the operation and function of lake outlet control structures.
- Storm impacts include lake filling, erosion, shoreline failure, failed or damaged weir, flume or dam structures, and storm sewer lines filled with sand and debris. Water quality impacts include contaminants such as bacteria, nutrients and sediment, and debris such as upland wreckage, boats, trees and other materials.
- Sandy added nutrients that may be a “time bomb,” possibly leading to major algae blooms this spring and summer.
- Resuspension of Sandy-deposited fine sediment could create turbidity issues that affect aquatic plant growth, fish spawning, etc.
- Salt shock appeared to be short-term, but did it alter the lakes’ fisheries?
- Submerged debris poses a long-term risk, including a danger to future water-based recreational uses. Such debris also: affects and delays natural restoration processes; affects control structures, increasing the risk of future damage; and continues to scour and disrupt submerged and riparian habitat.
- Lake monitoring and cleanup tasks are daunting and will require an understanding of impacted ecosystems. Public and private entities will need to be involved.
The challenge is to seize the opportunity and implement a Regional Comprehensive Coastal Lakes Restoration and Management Plan, according to a speech by John A. Tiedemann, director of the Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy Program at Monmouth University.
Here are some photos in Souza's presentation:
Lake Como in Belmar, Spring Lake and Lake Como before superstorm Sandy (Source: http://blog.skytruth.org/ via Stephen J. Souza)
Lake Como after Sandy (Source: http://blog.skytruth.org/ via Stephen J. Souza)
Lower Lake Takanassee in Long Branch after Sandy (Source: Turner Shell via Stephen J. Souza)
Lake pollution (Source: Stephen J. Souza)
