Swartswood Lake Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

Swartswood State Park is located in Northwest New Jersey in the Ridge and Valley region of Sussex County, five miles west of Newton. A suspected Harmful Algal Bloom was reported on 6/19/17. Subsequent monitoring and analysis confirmed levels above human health recreational risk thresholds. Closure information can be found on the Swartswood State Park website: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/swartswood.html.

What are Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)?

A cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) is the name given to the excessive growth, or "bloom", of cyanobacteria, some of which can produce one or more types of potentially harmful toxins. HABs can occur under suitable environmental conditions of light, temperature, nutrients, and calm water.

Swartswood Lake HAB Status.

Results are listed below. Results are updated as new data are received.

Thresholds used for closing:

Cell Count	and/or	Toxins
>20,000 cells/ml		Microcystins: 3 ug/L
		Anatoxin-a: 27 ug/L