Evaluation of Sunset Lake

Watershed and Water Quality

Authors:
David Benoit, Marissa DiCarlo, Arianna Efstatos,
Taylor Farro, Will Hale and Renee Parisi

A proposal to the Township of Bridgeton regarding the Sunset Lake Watershed

September-December 2016
Stockton University
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway NJ
08205

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents1
Introduction.2
Background2-4
Research Proposal4-7
Outreach Proposal7
Conclusion8
Sources...9-10

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Introduction:
The Sunset Lake watershed is more than just the lake itself, it contains the area
surrounding the lake which includes runoff, streams, and basins. Understanding how all of these
areas interact is essential to maintaining a healthy lake environment. Also the lake watershed
drains into other rivers and streams, and if the lake watershed is clean the other watersheds
further down will receive a clean water source. Some required changes could be simple; such as
only allowing water to pass through the sewers into the lake. But depending upon how polluted
or polluting the areas around the lake determine how drastic of a change or changes are needed.
If remediation is necessary it should be conducted because the future of the park and park goers
depends on the lakes health. Our job is to research the health of Sunset Lakes watershed and
determine if any action is required to remediate any problems; including pH, water temperature,
dissolved oxygen, heavy metals, total coliform, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, and nutrients
like phosphates and nitrates.
Background:
Sunset Lake is found on the Cohansey River in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The
watershed of Sunset Lake is greater than 29,000 acres, which gives a surface area ratio of around
300 to 1 (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 2003). The lake on its own is
around 89 acres, with an average and maximum depths of 2.0 and 3.4 meters. In addition, the
total volume of the lake is about 700,000 m. The discharge is approximately 66,000,000 m3/yr
and the inflow is 58,000,000 m3/yr.
The difference between these two values is based upon the inferred amount of
groundwater seepage. The hydraulic detention time for Sunset Lake was calculated at around

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

four days (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 2003). In regards to the lake
water itself, eutrophication has been increasing since the 1940s and the fish populations have
low counts, but the species diversity of the fish are relatively favorable.
Sunset Lake is an iconic feature of the surrounding community. Before it drained in
2011, the lake was used for a variety of recreational activities, and the locals have grown fond of
having the lake right in their backyards. Following superstorm Sandy, which brought heavy
rainfall that overtook the dams, populations of birds of prey, such as eagles, ospreys, and hawks
declined, likely as a result of the loss of fish. Now that the water has returned to the lake,
residents are very excited to see the rejuvenation of the lake, and many species have returned to
the area as a result. Water quality of the lake is tested bi-weekly by the Cumberland County
Health Department, and so far, it has passed only a handful of these examinations. Stormwater
runoff and rotting vegetation below the surface are the main culprits causing the lake to fail
inspection, and locals are still unable to swim in the lake as a result. This also poses health risks
to the 27,000 fish that were recently introduced to the lakes waters. This can have obvious
detrimental effects on the ecosystem as harmful material become ingested by the fish and make
their way into the food web via other species.
The main regulatory agency of the Cohansey watershed is the Cohansey Area Watershed
Association (CAWA). The organization strives to protect the Cohansey Rivers water quality
as well as perform general upkeep and public services, such as marking the tributaries that enter
Sunset Lake.
Prior to the draining of the lake, the Department of Environmental Protection would run
regular water quality tests in the area for their databases. Sunset Lake, as well as the upstream

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Mary Elmer Lake, failed an initial water quality test conducted by the NJDEP even before
superstorm Irene in 2011. After failing two tests in 2010, the township had no choice but to
cancel their annual Sunset Challenge Triathlon. Now, after the water has returned, the
community is still facing similar issues. We will be testing the lake for several contaminants,
including fecal coliform, nitrates, phosphates, and trace metals.

Figure 1 Sunset Lake Hydrography

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Research Proposal:
One

of the main focuses of our research will be to identify and test for Contaminants of

Concern (CoCs). These CoCs are; Total coliform, Nitrate-Nitrogen, total Phosphorus, pH,
conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and trace metals (Iron and Manganese). Then we will
compare our concentrations to those found by New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Cumberland County
Health Department for Sunset Lake from previous years, and this summer. Once we have
compared our results to the previous results, we will set a goal for the reduction of CoCs to
levels that are acceptable according to the NJDEP. Another main focus will be to investigate the
watershed and upper stream areas to identify any problems that could be originating from there
and carrying contaminants downstream into the lake. With the time frame given for completing
the research being mid-December, dividing up the work and procedures is necessary for
producing a well put together final report.
We are going to sample five sites spaced throughout Sunset Lake as shown in Figure 1
below, using the YSI 5200A to measure water quality in-situ [DO, conductivity, pH, and
temperature (degrees Celsius)].

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Figure 2: Sampling sites in the Sunset Lake Watershed

Then using the water samples taken from the five sites shown in Figure 1 above, tests will be
performed ex-situ to measure; total coliform, Nitrate/Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Iron, and
Manganese. We expect to find results pointing to higher than normal levels of phosphorus,
because Sunset Lake has a history of having problems with eutrophication (New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection, 2003).
In a study performed by NJDEP, it was found that 16,100 kg/year of phosphorus loads
were present in the lake. The main contributor of that total was from agricultural land use, which
is over 80% of the land use in the watershed as can be seen in Figure 2 below.

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Figure 3: Land Use Sunset Lake Watershed

Outreach Proposal:

For our project involving water quality, the stakeholders are the Bridgeton Municipality,
citizens of Bridgeton, the ecosystem, future generations, both humans and wildlife, landowners
and people who use the watershed. The final presentation of the data and conclusions will be
communicated to the mayor, citizens, and newscast. The possible news articles and community
officials will relay information to the public and give those who are interested, more options to
learn about our findings. Another idea to get the community involved is to throw an event at
Sunset Lake, where there will be activities and opportunities to tell people about the project.
Finally, pictures of the lake and surrounding area from before our project started and afterward
will be provided.

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

Conclusion:
In conclusion, our main goal is to make Sunset Lake a focal point for the City of
Bridgeton and the park. In order to accomplish this, we need to make the lake swimmable and
fishable which will attract the public to use the park and take care of the park. Our plan to
accomplish our goal starts with collecting data and comparing it to previous data taken by the
NJDEP, EPA, and the Cumberland County Health Department. Our CoCs are; Total coliform,
Nitrate-Nitrogen, total Phosphorus, pH, conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and trace metals
(Iron and Manganese). We need to analyze the data because once we know what we are up
against we can formulate a plan to remediate the lake and reach our goal. An important aspect of
our plan will be to create a sustainable idea that can last longer than our semester long project
and be implemented for years to come. Our last aspect to this project is to inform the public,
having their support is important to the success of this project as well as the longevity of Sunset
Lake and the Bridgeton Park.

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

References:
1. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Watershed
Management. "Total Maximum Daily Loads for Phosphorus To Address 13
Eutrophic Lakes in the Lower Delaware Water Region." Penn State University,
21 Apr. 2003, citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/
download?doi=10.1.1.520.4694&rep=rep1&type=pdf. Accessed 8 Sept. 2016.
2. http://www.nj.gov/dep/bmw/Reports/SE7_RE_00-05.pdf
3. Importance
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/07/bridgetons_sunset_lake_off_limits_to_swimmers_unti.h
tml
4. Caroline Owens
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cumberland/cumberland-s-sunset-lake-to-go-from-lawn-to
-lake/article_dbc6cdd6-0568-11e5-be2c-539b2df28675.html
. www.cohansey.org
5. Fecal Coliform
http://www.nj.com/bridgeton/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1279253426282500.xml
6. 2016 New Jersey Integrated Water Quality Assessment Methods PDF
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bears/docs/2016_draft_methods.pdf

7. http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2011/09/sunset_lake_can_be_saved_bridg.html
8.
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/07/bridgetons_sunset_lake_off_limits_to_swimme
rs_unti.html
9. http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whatsinyourwater/2987/NJ/NewJersey/Tetrachloroethylene/
10. http://www.hiddennj.com/2014/05/nailing-it-down-in-bridgeton.html
11.
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2016/06/lifeguards_needed_for_sunset_lake_to_open_
for_swim.html

Evaluation of Sunset Lake Watershed and Water Quality

10

12.
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2015/06/bridgeton_gem_sunset_lake_raceway_restora
tio
n_work.html
13. http://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/science/complete/kc/
14.
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WLmWBryCoisC&oi=fnd&pg=PA147&dq=sunset
+lake+bridgeton+new+jersey&ots=APzVi-yUQT&sig=TZjrCPs9gbA2jTiH461MfZJ4r1o#v=onepa
ge&q&f=false
15.
http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/ponds/pond-management/pond-construction/in
terpreting-water-tests-for-ponds-and-lakes
16.
http://agsci.psu.edu/aasl/water-testing/pond-and-lake-water/how-to-collect-a-pond-lake-water-sa
mple
17.
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/inland_lakes/Lake%20Sampling%20ProceduresFinal42910.
pdf
18. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/rwqc2012.pdf
19. Link from EPA that talks about allowed coliform levels and health repercussions
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bears/assessment.htm
20. http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/guidance/sedman2001.pdf
21.
http://upperdeerfield.com/Planning%20Documents/Upper%20Deerfield%20ERI%20Intro%20to
%20Summary.pdf