A minimum of five lifeguards are needed to maintain a swimming schedule at Sunset Lake.
BRIDGETON -- Sunset Lake remains officially closed to swimmers due to a lack of qualified lifeguards, according to the city.
While the city looks for lifeguards, signs are posted to deter bathers from going into Sunset Lake. A minimum of five lifeguards is needed to maintain a schedule at the lake, said Dale Goodreau, Bridgeton business administrator.
"That's why the lake is not open right now," Goodreau said. "It's not water quality or anything like that. The reason why the lake is not open for swimming is because of lifeguards."
Anyone interested in applying can call the city's recreation department. For potential lifeguards, the city will help with attaining lakefront qualifications.
"There's a difference between qualifications for a lifeguard at a pool and qualifications for a lifeguard at a lake," Goodreau said.
Sunset Lake was restored in 2015 after a storm destroyed lake infrastructure in 2011. N.J. Fish and Wildlife stocked the lake with bass and bluegill sunfish in 2015 and added more in 2016 for fishing.
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This season, the county has tested the lake waters biweekly this season and the water quality passed two out of three times. It rained prior to the failed test and, according to Goodreau, the lake's location downstream makes it susceptible from runoff from area farms and also geese droppings. The city installed an aeration system in the lake to improve water quality.
"We're the bottom of the chain," Goodreau said. "Once it gets to us it goes out to the Cohansey River."
The lake water passed its most recent testing from the county. The failed test was after a rainfall, which could have affected the testing, the business administrator added.
To apply for a lifeguard position, contact the recreation department by calling 856-455-3230 ex: 280.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.