Slicks & Harmful Algae Update

Since 1999, USEPA has monitored "floatables" through their Helicopter Monitoring Program.  Excess flows from combined sewage overflows around the New York/New Jersey Harbor often contain floating debris ("floatables") including both street litter (paper, plastics, bottles, etc.) and toilet-generated waste (hygiene products). When discharged to the Harbor waters, floatables tend to congregate in large groupings, or slicks, that can exit the Harbor and wash up on beaches depending on wind and tidal conditions.

The New York/New Jersey Harbor complex was monitored for floatables six times from September 1 - 7.   Here are the results:

• The harbor was clear of significant debris on September 1, 3, 6 and 7. 
• On September 4, a slick, approximately 1/8 mile long and 100 ft wide was reported on Newark Bay. 
• On September 5, a slick, approximately  ¼ mile long with varying widths was reported in Gravesend Bay. 
• All floatable debris slicks consisted of wood, plastic and paper, were reported to the Army Corps of Engineers, and cleanup was conducted as necessary. 

Algae samples are collected along the New Jersey coast, and bacteria samples are collected along the New York coast periodically as well as part of the program.

"Algal blooms" in coastal waters and estuaries may be caused by greatly increased amounts of nutrients entering an aquatic ecosystem from sewage systems, agricultural and residential fertilizers, and the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels and may occur naturally due to upwelling along the coast.  Algae forms the base of the food web that marine life depends on.  Excessive growth of the algae and certain harmful species, however, can negatively impact other species.  Algae that die and sink to the bottom stimulate growth of bacteria that uptake oxygen in the decompositon process. If large amounts of algae sink and deacay, the depletion of oxygen in the deeper water layers can occur negatively affecting seafloor life and fish.


The map at this link (See here) shows data of algal chlorophyll levels taken from NJDEP's coastal surveillance plane.   

Here are the results: 

Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay Area

• The waters of Raritan and Sandy Hook Bay were experiencing a bloom of Cylindrotheca closterium (64,000-400,000 cells/mL).  
• No toxic species were detected.

New Jersey Coastal Area

• The ocean waters from Long Branch to Cape May were generally clear with sparse algal concentrations.  
• No toxic species were detected in the ocean waters off the coast of New Jersey.

Barnegat Bay Area

• The waters of Barnegat Bay from Toms River to Island Beach were experiencing a mild bloom of Nannochloris oculata and Synechocystis sp.  
• The waters from Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Harbor were generally clear with sparse algal concentrations.  
• No toxic species were detected.

Great Bay

• The waters of Great Bay were generally clear with sparse algal concentrations.  
• No toxic species were detected.

Great Egg Harbor

• The waters of Great Egg were generally clear with sparse algal concentrations.  
• No toxic species were detected.

Delaware Bay/Capeshore Area

• A normally diverse assemblage of phytoplankton with a large amount of detritus was present in the waters along the Cape Shore near Dias Creek.  
• The waters at the mouth of the bay were generally clear with sparse algal conditions.  
• No toxic species were detected.

*No samples collected in the New Jersey Coastal Waters were found to contain the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning species Alexandrium spp.