Lake Hopatcong: DEP Lifts Swimming Advisory for Byram Cove

Published on August 08, 2019

Popular Swimming Site is Third Area to Have Advisory Removed

The state Department of Environmental Protection's advisory about bodily contact with lake water has been lifted for a third section of Lake Hopatcong, the popular Byram Cove in the northeast section of the lake.

(JPG, 7KB) Boating is allowed on Lake Hopatcong but DEP advisory cautions against recreational sports, such as water skiing, and direct contact with the water, except in Byram Cove, Henderson Cove and Indian Harbor

That follows previous lifting of the advisory over the past two weeks for Indian Harbor and Henderson Cove, which sit immediately adjacent to Byram Cove.

According to the state DEP, measurements in all three areas indicate that cyanobacteria levels are below the state's 20,000 cells per milliliter advisory threshold.

The DEP continues to strongly caution residents and visitors to be aware that elevated bacteria levels continue throughout the remainder. However, there is no suggested limitation on more passive boating that does not involve bodily contact with lake water.

The state is continuing bi-weekly water sampling and has placed real-time monitoring buoys in the lake to continue to assess the lake's health in connection with harmful algal blooms.

DEP recommends that the public avoid bodily contact with lake water in areas beyond Byram Cover, Indian Harbor and Henderson Cove. Swimming and watersports such as jet-skiing, water-skiing, paddle-boarding, canoeing or kayaking should be avoided because skin exposure or accidental ingestion of the water containing these bacteria could cause adverse health effects.