LAKE , from Page 1 Environmental Studies Dr . Emma Witt giving the committee a presentation on her and her class ’ s latest findings , current research focus and future research plans regarding Hammonton Lake .
Witt conducted a series of studies on Hammonton Lake for three years dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic . The studies included a vegetation survey , testing the dissolved oxygen , temperature , conductivity and water quality on the lake . The vegetation survey took place on June 1 , 2022 and Witt and her students managed to research 20 different sites of the lake . Floating vegetation was found in seven sites and none were found in 13 sites . The most common ones that were found were bullhead lilies , which are lily pads with yellow flowers ,
and floating bladderworts . They are usually found in the arms and shallow parts of the lake and are not considered invasive , according to Witt .
“ It ’ s kind of prevalent in the areas , like in the arms of the lake and the more shallower parts so where the water gets really deep , it seems like they just don ’ t have enough roots to make it and be in the really deep water for the bullhead lilies and that seems pretty normal , based on what I ’ ve seen in other places ,” Witt said .
Witt then presented her findings on the other aspects of the lake based on the water quality meter her and her class used . The lake ’ s dissolved oxygen is fine , the temperature looked fine and they didn ’ t notice any big differences . The conductivity , which is a measure of the dissolved ions that are in the water and at times is an indicator of pollution , is fine and the levels didn ’ t concern Witt for potential hazards anywhere around the lake .
The water quality is good but Witt noted that they need to recommit to weekly sampling but are able to run coliforms on campus as well as nitrate sampling .
“ I do have one or two great students this semester , one who drives by the lake at least two or three times a week . I think I ’ ve convinced him to get the samples
Wednesday , February 22 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
Town , Stockton University researching lake
for us so as soon as I find some time to show him where to get them from , we ’ re going to start doing that hopefully weekly again through this semester , at least every two weeks and then during the summer get a couple more students to get weekly sampling ,” Witt said .
Witt revealed that in the past year , they ’ ve received over $ 7,000 from Stockton University to conduct these researches . Witt has reallocated a little of the $ 6,000 to another research project due to the Mullica River fire hitting through some of Witt ’ s research projects . An additional $ 1,050 grant was awarded to Witt ’ s student , Bex Baker , and will be used on a project on how to grow mushrooms in the lab and how to get the lake water into the mushrooms to see if they can get the coliforms out of the lakewater .
The timeline for the lake research is that weekly sampling will continue from spring to fall 2023 , resume March bench scale mushroom work in spring 2023 , then transition from bench scale to kiddie pool scale mushroom work in summer 2023 and continue that until fall 2023 and do a vegetation survey in summer 2023 . Witt then concluded the presentation by taking questions from the committee and those who were in attendance .
Committee chairperson Dan
Bachalis then moved forward to the committee reports , starting with parks and recreation commission member Mica McCullough . The last meeting discussed the signage of rules and regulation , specifically the numbers on the field for Boyer Avenue Recreational Park .
“ The idea is to make an overarching park signage plan , so the rules will be posted . Part of this is working with the design group that ’ s been working on the building park plan , to try to make sure to get all the signs throughout town at all the different parks are uniformed to each other ,” McCullough said .
The lake / community clean-up is scheduled for March 4 and the clean-up will take place at 10 a . m . to 12 p . m ., with registration at 9 a . m . to 10 a . m . at the Hammonton Canoe Club .
The 2023 goals were revised and the goals are as listed : monitoring the spring 2023 herbicide application , continue their collaboration with Stockton University , increase their public communications , deepen the community knowledge of aquatic herbicide issues , collaborate with the town to commence cleaning of storm water lines feeding into Hammonton Lake , initiate a Mullica River watershed plan application for the 2024 application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ( NJDEP ), seek new Bass Pro Shops or other grants and monitor lake conditions once a month .
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