Organic Pellets to Help Control Lake Vegetation
Ocean Township has come up with a unique and experimental way to deal with removing organic debris, like leaves, from Fireman’s Pond in the Wanamassa section. Original plans called for the pond to be dredged.“We are going to try an organic approach first. We are very interested to see how it works out” Mayor Christopher Siciliano said.
Siciliano said township engineers were contacted by state environmental officials who suggested special pellets be tried out to deal with the problem. He said they are currently being used in another lake in Monmouth County.
“This product creates microbes that eat away at the organic debris” he said.
After conditions at Fireman’s Pond, between Wickapecko and Lake drives, were analyzed, it was found that there are five to seven feet of decayed leaves in the water.
Siciliano said estimates to dredge that much organic material from the pond was from $750,000 to $1 million- much more than the township wants to spend.
Source: the Coaster
