Reappraisal of Shellfish Growing Area SE-7: Sunset Lake to Cape May Harbor, 1996 - 2000

The water quality data presented in this Reappraisal of Shellfish Growing Area SE-7; Sunset Lake to Cape May Harbor, were collected between October 1996 and September 2000, using the Systematic Random Sampling (SRS) strategy. However, additional sampling runs are recommended for the sampling stations that need 30 sets of data for the Systematic Random Sampling Strategy. The water quality of this shellfish growing area was good, and the Special Restricted and Prohibited classification of this shellfish growing area meets the water quality standards as specified by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) concerning water quality and shellfish growing water classification criteria (USPHS, 1999 Revision). No classification changes are recommended for this shellfish growing area.This report is part of a series of studies having a dual purpose. The first and primary purpose is to comply with the guidelines of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) that are established by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC). The second purpose is to input the State Water Quality Inventory Report which is prepared pursuant to Section 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act (P.L. 95-217). The information contained in the growing area reports is also used for the New Jersey State Water Quality Inventory Report (305b) which provides an assessment to Congress every two years of current water quality conditions in the State's major rivers, lakes, estuaries and ocean waters.This report was funded by a State General Appropriation and the Federal Clean Water Act, and prepared by staff at the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring, Leeds Point, New Jersey