Lake Hopatcong Commission Awarded $367,000 NJDEP Grant for Water Quality Improvements in Roxbury Township

The Lake Hopatcong Commission, in partnership with Roxbury Township and Princeton Hydro, and with support from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, has been awarded a $367,000 Water Quality Restoration Grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for the Lake Hopatcong Watershed Basin Enhancement Project.

The project will retrofit an existing stormwater detention basin with a series of green stormwater infrastructure improvements designed to slow, capture, and naturally treat stormwater runoff. The basin project, located between King Road and Mount Arlington Boulevard in Roxbury Township, was identified in the 2021 Upper Musconetcong River Implementation Plan (WIP) as a priority project to reduce non-point source pollution and improve water quality before stormwater enters the lake at King Cove.

“Roxbury is truly thankful for the Lake Hopatcong Commission. Lake Hopatcong is such a valuable resource and the commission’s work alongside Princeton Hydro has preserved a natural treasure,” said Shawn Potillo, Mayor of Roxbury. “We are grateful to the NJDEP for their support and award of this grant. This water basin project in Roxbury will help continue the commission’s purpose of keeping the lake a beautiful place to swim, boat, relax, and call home.”

A range of improvements will be incorporated including planting native vegetation and managing invasive species to stabilize soils, support wildlife, and naturally filter pollutants before they reach the lake. Erosion and sediment control measures will further protect the area by reducing stormwater scouring and preventing bank degradation.

In addition to on-the-ground restoration, the project emphasizes public education and outreach to promote best management practices and ongoing watershed stewardship among residents and local partners. Project success will be evaluated through water quality monitoring conducted before and after construction, providing measurable data on the project’s effectiveness in improving water quality.

“Lake Hopatcong’s fight against harmful algal blooms requires a united front, where many projects, like retrofitting stormwater basins to capture nutrients before they go into the lake, collectively make a big impact,” said Dr. Fred Lubnow, Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services at Princeton Hydro. “Thanks to the leadership of the Lake Hopatcong Commission and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, this collaborative approach is driving real progress toward cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and a more resilient future for New Jersey’s largest lake.”

The basin enhancement project is funded through NJDEP’s Water Quality Restoration Grant Program, which is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Clean Water Act Section 319(h). Along with the state grant, the project includes a $200,000 local match from the Commission, Roxbury Township, and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, and builds on a $98,000 planning grant awarded by the New Jersey Highlands Council in 2024 that helped prepare the project for implementation and future grant opportunities.

“This project represents an important step forward in improving Lake Hopatcong’s water quality and reducing pollutants that contribute to harmful algal blooms,” said Ron Smith, Chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Commission. “We’re grateful to NJDEP, Roxbury Township, Princeton Hydro, the Foundation and the Highlands Council for their continued partnership in protecting this vital resource.”

The Lake Hopatcong Commission is an independent state agency created in, but not of, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. LHC is recognized as a steward of the lake and watershed. The 11-member Board of State and local appointees include representatives of the four municipalities and two counties surrounding Lake Hopatcong. LHC is responsible for fulfilling the obligations of the Lake Hopatcong Protection Act, to safeguard Lake Hopatcong as a natural, scenic, and recreational resource. To learn more, click here to visit lakehopatcongcommission.org.

For over 30 years, Princeton Hydro has been proud to work alongside the Lake Hopatcong Commission and Lake Hopatcong Foundation in support of the lake’s health and resilience. Through these partnerships, and with the support of numerous funding agencies, a wide range of projects have been implemented to reduce pollutant loads, manage stormwater runoff, address invasive species and harmful algal blooms, and enhance habitat quality—helping to protect both the lake and the communities that depend on it. To learn more about our collaborative efforts, click here.

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