Lake Hopatcong is the state’s largest lake, with 45 miles of shoreline and 2,500 acres of fresh water, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors that live within its watershed and beyond. The fact that this state lake has received less and less financial support from Trenton each year is not only frustrating to those who use the lake for recreation and enjoyment, but is also devastating for the long-term health of the ecosystem. The depletion of resources for the state weed harvesting operation has caused parts of the lake to be unnavigable, and monitoring data has shown that the reduced weed harvests of recent years have reversed the long-term trend of improved water quality on the lake. With each passing year that the state does not properly support this state resource, it deteriorates in a way that hurts businesses, residents, visitors, and aquatic life. It is the responsibility of the State of New Jersey to properly manage this public natural and recreational resource.

Let's make 2016 the year of Lake Hopatcong.