Lake Hopatcong Commission

Water Quality Monitoring

Effective May, 2010 the Water Quality Monitoring program will no longer be funded through the Commission's operating budget since the Commission has not received a State budget appropriation to continue its legislative mandate to protect Lake Hopatcong.  The Water Quality Monitoring program for 2010-2013 will be funded through a SFY2010 NJ DEP 319(h) non-point source pollution grant. 

The water quality monitoring program is conducted by the Commission's Environmental Consultant, Princeton Hydro, LLC.  In-lake monitoring takes place during the growing season from May through September each year at eleven locations.  Beginning in 2006, supplemental monitoring will be done at near shore, in-lake sampling stations to assess the water quality benefits associated with the Best Management Practices (BMP) structures to be installed as part of the Commission's 319(h) grants awarded by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).  In 2010, three additional in-lake stations were added to assess the water quality improvements associated with additional grant projects funded through a SFY10 319(h) grant.

In 2006, the Commission staff received approval through two Quality Assurance Protection Plans (QAPPs) from NJ DEP to collect baseline (non-storm events) water quality samples from tributaries that drain into Lake Hopatcong and to collect composite stormwater samples from locations that have been selected for the installation of specific BMPs. 

In 2007, the Commission began additional sampling in conjunction with the U.S. EPA Targeted Watershed Grant (TWG).  Additional stormwater sampling  is done near seven additional sites around the lake.  Also as part of the Commission's effort to promote the use of Lake-Friendly Fertilizer, another component of the TWG is to conduct sampling to collect surface runoff from lawns that have been treated with both phosphorus and non-phosphorus fertilizer in order to measure the difference in the amount of phosphorous entering the lake.

The water quality monitoring program is important for several reasons:

1. continue the baseline water quality monitoring database for the lake

2. identify long-term trends in water quality

3. quantify and objectively assess the success and potential impacts of lake restoration efforts

• Water Quality Monitoring Stations Map

• Water Quality Monitoring Overview Presentation (2012)

• Water Quality Monitoring Report (2012)

• Water Quality Report Summary (2012) and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2012)

• Water Quality Report (2011) and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2011)

• Water Quality Report (2010) and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2010)

• Water Quality Report (2009) and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2009)

• Water Quality Report (2008)  and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2008)

• Water Quality Report (2007) and Water Quality Report (Mid-Year 2007)

• Water Quality Report (2006)

• Water Quality Monitoring Report (2005)

• Water Quality Monitoring Report (2004)

• Summary of Aquatic Plant Community

Dr. Fred Lubnow of Princeton Hydro, LLC monitoring at mid-lake Station #2 (2012)

Hosting visitors from US EPA Region 2 and NJ DEP Watershed Management (9-26-07)

Tributary Monitoring Training (6-21-06)

Lake Monitoring across from Liffy Island in Woodport Cove (2005)

Lake Monitoring on August 13, 2004 at Station 2 Near Chestnut Point