Residents of Stafford Township:

We have been monitoring the water quality issues in Beach Haven West for the last ten days.  At this time, and after consultation with the Ocean County Health Department, we offer the following:

The time of heightened awareness and concern appears to have past.

Recreational activity can resume in the lagoons.

It is always recommended by the Ocean County Health Department that swimming take place in protected areas where water quality is regularly checked.  Use of the lagoons for recreational swimming is at your own risk and not recommended.

Recreational crabbing and fishing is permitted but it is recommended that only crabs taken from approved harvest areas are considered safe to eat.  No lagoon would be considered an approved harvest area.

The township continues to monitor the water quality issues in the lagoons.  We thank all of our residents for their assistance in reporting these issues.