T’is the season for raking leaves, and we can assure you that our lake is no happier than any of us to have to absorb decaying leaves.  Cupsaw really doesn’t need more nutrient to feed next year’s weed and algae growth.  We can all help:

1.  Please keep leaves away from our storm drains and adjacent curbs.  (If you have a landscaper, ask them to pick up curbside leaves by drains.)  Rain washes leaves into the storm drains, clogging them.  Decayed leaves wash into the storm drains and it all ends up in the lake.
2. Don’t compost leaves close to the lake or any of the streams that empty into the lake.  Same principal: We don’t need these leaves adding to the lakes biomass.

You may have noticed one step taken this fall to protect our lake water quality.  The town dredged the settling pond at 234 Cupsaw Drive (Northeast end of the lake).  This helps reduce the amount of nutrient reaching the lake from that stream, which has tested high in phosphorous.  Our test team checks nine inlets regularly so that can address problem areas.

Thanks again for your cooperation.

Its been 6 weeks since we were closed based on a NJDEP HAB (harmful; algal bloom) test.  We were asked not to retest until the algae bloom completely dissipated.  This bloom was persistent because of repeated heavy rain events washing new nutrients into the lake throughout September.  Now that the lake is back to normal, we’ve asked the DEP to retest and we expect to be cleared by the NJ DoH soon.  

Tests for HABs is a new thing.  We’ve always tested well for the weekly bacteria tests the state requires.  But HAB tests will become more frequent, so we have to take aggressive measures to reduce the nutrients coming into our lake, e.g., support of a town septic pumping ordinance and filtering at those inlets which we have tested to be our worst source of phosphorus.  Our members can also help by pumping septic tanks every three years, using bio friendly washing liquids (Seventh Generation and Natures Promise), using less lawn fertilizer and mulch, and keeping storm drains clear.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.