Coastal lakes of New Jersey (USA) are found directly adjacent to, and often hydraulically connected with, the Atlantic Ocean in highly populated and developed watersheds. Historically, the water quality of these relatively small lakes is ‘degraded’ due to factors including stormwater and sediment-rich runoff. Since the occurrence of dangerous cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (HABs) in some of these lakes in 2019, we have tracked annual trends in water quality and HAB abundance through the Coastal Lakes Observing Network (CLONet), a combined Monmouth University, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and citizen monitoring program. Citizen data are collected by community members who are trained and equipped by CLONet personnel. An independent but parallel university- and state-run time series allows examination of relationships between citizen / lab data and informs best use of citizen data in a monitoring context. Here, our four-year combined citizen – lab dataset on water quality, HABs, and watershed properties is used to identify general challenges and project-specific solutions to incorporating citizen monitoring, as well as examining findings arising from the project such as the relationship between rainfall and water quality that is an important driver in this largely urban system.

Primary Presenter: Jason Adolf, Monmouth University (jadolf@monmouth.edu)

Authors:

Erin Conlon, Monmouth University  (econlon@monmouth.edu)

Eric Ernst, NJ Department of Environmental Protection  (Eric.Ernst@dep.nj.gov)

Geoffrey Fouad, Monmouth University  (gfouad@monmouth.edu)

Bill Heddendorf, NJ Department of Environmental Protection  (Eric.Ernst@dep.nj.gov)

Herrington Thomas, Monmouth University  (therring@monmouth.edu)

Sydney Lucas, Monmouth University  (Sydney.Lucas@co.monmout.nj.us)

Marie Mauro, Monmouth University  (s1300214@monmouth.edu)

Robert Newby, NJ Department of Environmental Protection  (s1300214@monmouth.edu)

Nicholas Occhiogrosso, Monmouth University  (s1232698@monmouth.edu)

Robert Schuster, NJ Department of Environmental Protection  (Robert.Schuster@dep.nj.gov)

Ariel Zavala, Monmouth University  (s1233501@monmouth.edu)