'Lake Hopatcong Fund' Passes State Senate Committee

LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ — The Lake Hopatcong Fund bill has passed a State Senate committee, and, if voted into law, could provide $500,000 in fees to maintain the lake.

Fees from the $18 boating registration fee are currently split between the general fund and the Motor Vehicle Commission. Under the Lake Hopatcong Fund Bill (S-2389), all those funds would go directly to benefit the lake (you can read the bill here). The bill was first introduced in June 2016.

Lake Hopatcong, which is on the border of Morris and Sussex counties, is the largest freshwater lake in the state. Weed growth in the lake has made some of it in accessible to boaters and swimmers.

“Lake Hopatcong brings in millions in revenue for the state each year,” Senator Anthony Bucco (R-Morris, Somerset) said. “Our economy will suffer if we don’t find a stable way to pay for annual weed harvesting and stormwater management. We shouldn’t have to scramble every year to find the money we need to keep boaters and swimmers safe. I believe that our bill is a fiscally-responsible solution to this problem. I will continue to do everything I can to get it signed into law.”

“This is not just a local issue. Tourists come from all over the country to visit Lake Hopatcong,” Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris, Essex, Passaic) said. “This is a tried and true economic resource for the entire region and it deserves our support. The cost of maintaining the lake shouldn’t fall on the backs of local residents and business owners alone. Our bill will ensure everyone can enjoy the lake for years to come.”

Image via NJ Senate Republicans