$350k grant to fund stormwater enhancements in Witten Park

August 29, 2024| Environment

By: Kyle Richter

We are thrilled to share that the Lake Hopatcong Commission, in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, has been awarded $353,000 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. This grant will support the implementation of habitat enhancement and water quality improvements at Witten Park in Hopatcong.

The project focuses on treating stormwater runoff from a 20-acre drainage area that flows through Witten Park and eventually into Lake Hopatcong. The improvements will involve installing a regenerative stormwater conveyance system designed to manage and treat stormwater within the park. This system will restore the floodplain, streams, and freshwater wetlands, significantly reducing erosion and sediment discharges into the lake. Beyond stormwater management, the system will also provide ecological uplift, benefiting local aquatic and benthic communities.

This grant builds on previous investments in the project, including $54,000 awarded to the Borough of Hopatcong by the New Jersey Highlands Council and $140,000 awarded to the Lake Hopatcong Commission by NFWF for the initial planning phase. Additionally, matching funds totaling $383,000 will be provided as in-kind contributions by various local partners, including the Lake Hopatcong Commission, Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, and Princeton Hydro. 

For more information, read the NFWF grants announcement HERE and view a list of all the awards granted HERE.

An example of a regenerative stormwater conveyance system from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.