Funds set aside in 2018 budget, $19,000 purchase not yet made
The process of decision-making in government is notoriously slow — even at the local level.
The topic of an aerating fountain for the Mullica Hill Pond has surfaced several times throughout the course of a few years and not until recently has it come close to fruition.
By the efforts of the Harrison Township Environmental Commission, most notably Mike Gonserkevis, a fountain will almost certainly be visible in the pond this coming fall.
In the dwindling hours of creating the 2018 municipal budget, the township’s committee deemed fountain funds worthy of allocating.
With the pressure of convincing the committee of the pond’s dire health done, Gonserkevis went to work gathering fountain specs.
At the July work session, Gonserkevis led a presentation that breaks fountain implementation into three phases with the end goal of a healthy pond and a recreational park based around it.
Phase one includes the purchase of a $19,000 aerating fountain with a seven-horsepower engine. Aeration assists with the process of enhancing a body of water’s health by increasing oxygen levels. Aeration also improves natural systems below the surface.
With a healthier pond, Gonserkevis said the likelihood of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife approving the pond for further fish stock would increase. A long-term goal would be the re-introduction of fish known for dieting heavily on mosquitos. Ideally, the pond would contain trout.
However, trout require larger depths, and due to the organic build-up, the Fish and Wildlife service is hesitant to stock the pond.
Before fish and even before the fountain, Gonserkevis said a large-scale leaf removal must be carried out as the fountain requires three feet of open water underneath its base to operate effectively.
“Dredging is an option, but an expensive one,” Gonserkevis said at a committee meeting earlier in 2018.
The committee is considering hiring a company for hydro-raking to assist with the leaf removal. This process can cost up to $1,800 a day and Gonserkevis estimates two days of work to be sufficient. This cost would be in addition to the $19,000.
At the July workshop meeting he said, “We will do everything we can to not dredge.”
Decaying leaves and other flora also reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the pond, which leads to ecological degradation.
Preparation during phase one would also include the pruning of trees along the shoreline to reduce further compiling matter.
Gonserkevis hopes phase one can be completed by the end of August.
Phase two includes the consideration of a maintenance program for the pond to reduce the amount of manual organic matter clean-up. Gonserkevis mentioned a solar-powered unit called SolarBee. This mixing unit would assist with dissolved oxygen and pH levels along with depleting the quantity of invasive plant life. This mixing unit would come at an additional cost not yet determined.
With the hopes of implementing this mixing unit, Gonserkevis said 2019 would be the time to consider adding picnic tables and park benches to grassy areas around the pond with phase three introducing a potential ADA compliant boat ramp, fishing deck and trails. Phase three is projected to be complete by 2020.
“Let’s get the pond’s health squared and work our way to having a nice park,” Gonserkevis said.
