How Lake-Friendly Is Your Home? 

June 03, 2026| Community, Education, Environment

By: Millena Galatioto and Faith Bulger

Protecting Lake Hopatcong starts at home. Whether you live along the shoreline or in the surrounding hills, the choices you make on your property can help protect water quality and support a healthier lake.

We're excited to introduce our new Lake-Friendly Living Program, designed to help residents and property owners within the watershed learn how everyday actions can help protect Lake Hopatcong.

Because every home and property is different, we created the Lake-Friendly Living Survey so you only answer questions that apply to your specific situation. This makes the experience simple, relevant, and personalized rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The survey focuses on residential properties and covers topics such as lawn care, stormwater runoff, fertilizer use, septic maintenance, landscaping practices, and other household habits that can affect lake health. Along the way, participants will discover practical and realistic ways to reduce pollution, improve water quality, and make their property more lake-friendly over time.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open to residential properties within the Lake Hopatcong watershed. Not sure if your property is within the watershed? You can enter your address in this resource from the Lake Hopatcong Commission to find out.

All participants, regardless of score, will receive personalized guidance and tools to support more lake-friendly practices.

But here’s where a little friendly competition comes in.

Participants who score 70% or higher will earn an official Lake-Friendly Living sign to display on their property, a tangible recognition of the choices you're already making for the lake.

To add even more excitement, the first 10 residential properties to earn a Lake-Friendly Living sign will be entered into a drawing for two great prizes! The first prize is a pair of tickets to our Sunset Soirée Gala & Auction on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Stone Water. A second prize of four eco cruise tickets aboard the Floating Classroom during the 2026 season will also be awarded.

If you would like to learn more about the program and take the survey, visit our Lake-Friendly Living page, or stop by our table at the Lake Hopatcong Antique & Classic Boat Society Boat Show on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club, 75 N Bertrand Rd in Mt Arlington. We’ll be happy to answer questions and get you started.

So, how lake-friendly is your property? Share your results with neighbors and friends and see who else steps up for Lake Hopatcong!

Every property matters and every action counts in building a healthier future for Lake Hopatcong.

* Only residential properties within the Lake Hopatcong watershed are eligible to be entered in the prize drawings.