Lake Hopatcong Water Level Management Plan

Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC)

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) initiated and is nearing completion of the a re-examination of the Lake Hopatcong Water Level Management Plan (2011).  The Lake Hopatcong Commission held a special meeting on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the Roxbury Municipal Building, 1715 Route 45, Ledgewood, NJ to discuss and hear public comment on the plan. At its February 22, 2011 meeting, the Commission agreed to send a letter to NJ DEP Commissioner Martin providing remarks on the plan.

The purpose of the reexamination will include, but is not necessarily limited to:

  1. as necessary, adjust the lake level management protocol to maximize its benefits to the homeowners and businesses around the lake in consideration of the resource management objectives

  2. review of downstream conditions and considerations to ensure that the basis for the plan remains sound

  3. review of the necessity of the five-foot draw down

As part of the reexamination process, NJ DEP will convene a Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) as a means of soliciting public input and recommendations on the Water Level Management Plan.  NJ DEP staff will provide resource management information to the CAC including downstream water diversion rights, downstream discharge dilution requirements, ecological flow requirements, historic preservation needs, rainfall and drainage calculations.  The CAC includes representation from the Lake Hopatcong Commission (LHC),  Lake Hopatcong Alliance, Lake Musconetcong Regional Planning Board, Musconetcong Watershed Association, Jefferson Township, Hopatcong Borough, Mount Arlington Borough and Roxbury Township.  The Committee’s role is advisory only, but it is the intent of NJ DEP to involve them throughout the decision making process, to solicit their suggestions and to promote an understanding of the basis for the Lake Hopatcong Water Level Management Plan. 

At the request of NJ DEP, the LHC has agreed to assist the Department in sharing information and hearing additional public comment.  Members of the public are encouraged to review this website for updates on the CAC meetings and to review documents distributed to the CAC.  The CAC anticipates meeting monthly as needed through September 2010.  The LHC will provide CAC updates at their regular monthly meetings.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to address the LHC Commissioners on the Water Level Management Plan during public comment session held at their meetings.    For anyone unable to attend the LHC meetings, comments can be sent to the Commission Administrator at dmhlhc@verizon.net.  The Commission will share public comment with the CAC.  Additionally, DEP representatives may attend periodic LHC meetings to provide updates and hear comments from the public directly.  When this occurs, the NJ DEP representatives will be noted on the LHC meeting agenda.   

CAC Meeting Notes

Reports

Other Documents