Stormwater runoff control efforts and other initiatives have now helped keep Manahawkin Lake open for swimming for two summers in a row, according to Stafford Township officials.

At the regular council meeting last night, Mayor John Spodofora praised efforts by the community and the county to keep the lake open for swimmers. He said although the beach at A. Paul King Lake Beach is now closed because lifeguards are no longer staffing the lake, Spodofora said he was very happy the lake remained open through Labor Day weekend.

Water samples are taken at some of the beaches and lakes by the Ocean County Health Department and tested at the Ocean County Utilities Authority lab throughout the summer. The Department of Environmental Protection closed some Ocean County beaches earlier this summer after high levels of bacteria were noted.

However, Spodofora said, Manahawkin Lake remained open, despite a long history of having been closed and reopened due to bacteria levels. Efforts to control bacteria levels in the lake have led to two consecutive summers that the lake was open, Spodofora said.

"I have received numerous calls from people asking us what we're doing right," he said at the meeting, adding that less than 5% of the communities in Ocean County have been able to keep all of their beaches open throughout the entire summer. He added that the Adopt A Park program has added seating in the pavilion area at the park.