Poor lake quality in Monmouth County — likely a statewide problem
On a four-tier scale that denotes the status of water quality, Monmouth County's 10 coastal lakes fall in the worst possible category, according to data gathering led by Monmouth University that continues today.
Solutions meant to reduce the cloudiness of these water bodies or reduce the presence of harmful algal blooms could take several years to make a difference. But in the meantime, experts, students and so-called citizen scientists are working to keep a close eye on the situation and mitigate immediate impacts on the lakes' surrounding communities.
"The thing about the coastal lakes is that they're small but they're surrounded by big populations," said Jason Adolf, endowed associate professor of marine science at the West Long Branch-based university.