Lake Hopatcong Oxygenation System Feasibility Study Public Meeting

Published on October 27, 2023

Public Meeting on Oxygenation System Feasibility Study for Lake Hopatcong

In a continued commitment to improve the water quality of Lake Hopatcong, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Commission, and Morris County announce a public meeting to present an overview of a proposed oxygenation system for the lake. The meeting will be held on Thursday, November 2, at 6:30 pm and will take place at the Township of Roxbury Municipal Building, located at 1715 Route 46, Ledgewood, NJ. A virtual option will also be available.

Since the widespread occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in 2019, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and the Lake Hopatcong Commission have been actively exploring solutions to reduce their frequency. As part of this effort, a preliminary review of various aeration technologies was completed by Princeton Hydro in early 2023, which led to the recommendation of an oxygenation system. 

To further investigate the potential of this proposed system, the Highlands Council provided a grant to Morris County for a comprehensive feasibility and design analysis. To engage the community in this important initiative, two public meetings will be held to provide information and gather feedback.

The first public meeting, scheduled for November 2, will focus on the fundamentals of the project. Attendees will learn about the impact of the internal phosphorus load on water quality, the methods for managing it, and the reasons behind the selection of the proposed oxygenation system. Specifics regarding the system's design, associated costs, and its planned location will be presented in the second public meeting, expected to be scheduled in early 2024.

The overarching goal of this project is twofold: to design an oxygenation system capable of effectively managing Lake Hopatcong's internal phosphorus load and to determine its feasibility from various perspectives, including recreational, financial, and spatial considerations.

Interested parties are encouraged to attend the public meeting on Thursday, November 2, to gain insight into this project and its potential to enhance the water quality of Lake Hopatcong. For information on joining the meeting virtually, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org