Lake Hopatcong's Only Hope? Rain

Pray for rain.

That was the prevailing sentiment at Monday's Lake Hopatcong Commission meeting in Roxbury where commission members, state workers and the public expressed worries over Lake Hopatcong's low water level.

"That's the solution, we need rain," commission Chairman Russell Felter said. "We need Mother Nature. Everybody was thrilled we had a really nice winter ... but this is the result."

Lake Hopatcong was about 2 feet shallower than its normal spring depth of 9 feet at 11 p.m. Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, due to the warm winter and dry spring, threatening to ruin the summer for boaters and businesses around the lake.

Perhaps worse, if water levels remain low and the temperatures continue to soar, fish and other lake life could die, Department of Environmental Protection representative Kerry Pflugh said.

But Pflugh said she didn't see it getting to that point, provided the state sticks with its water-level management plan. Under the plan, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife approved a temporary reduction of outflow from the Lake Hopatcong Dam to the Musconetcong River.

"Does it make everybody happy? No," Pflugh said after the meeting. "But we're making the best scientific decision we can."

After the lake's annual 26-inch winter reduction, the lake hasn't refilled as quickly due to the "lack of ice cover on the lack and in recognition of minimal rainfall," Pflugh said. So the lake's outflow was reduced from the regular 12 feet per cubic inch to to 8.2 feet on April 12.

But if the water temperature climbs to a seven-day average of 77 degrees, the outflow will be flipped back to 12 feet per cubic inch to preserve wildlife despite cutting off the Musconetcong River's key water source.

Lake Hopatcong Marine owner Ron Sorensen said he applauded the outflow reduction, but it was too little, too late.

"I didn't think it would ever happen, but I think Lake Hopatcong is getting a little more consideration these days and for what it's used for. But the reality is these efforts are small. Don't misunderstand me, I'm happy that you did it. … It's not the solution."

Cissy MacGonagle, vice president for the Musconetcong Watershed Association, however, said she worried the water's low level would affect residents and wildlife.

"Lowering in the water level in the river will just exacerbate the problem," she said. "So I hope you'll be able to return to the 12 [cubic feet per square inch] level as soon as possible. Otherwise I think it really will be devastating for all of the organisms in the river."

Longtime Knee Deep Club member Tim Clancy said the commission made the smart move in sticking with the water-level management plan's course and not panicking despite desperate conditions.

"Before we go making decisions on how hard it is, remember there's outlier on the other side that could be just as harmful," he said.

Commission administrator Donna Macalle-Holly agreed, backing the year's 26-inch drawdown. She said in March 2010 the lake rose from 7.45 feet to 8.3 in less than two days. And she said in 2011 the lake went from 6.86 feet to more than 9 feet in 12 days.

"It's a lake," Macalle-Holly said. "We have to manage it based on Mother Nature. We can't be making decisions to raise or lower a lake based on one year."