Lake-Wide Community Cleanup: Join us for a cleaner lake!

September 13, 2023| Environment, Community, Events

By: Donna Macalle-Holly

Every five years, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection lowers the water level on New Jersey’s largest lake by 5 feet (60 inches) to allow lake-front homeowners and business owners to inspect and repair shoreline structures. This drawdown can also have some beneficial effects on aquatic weed control.

Since 2013, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation has been partnering with the Lake Hopatcong Commission to organize a Lake-Wide Community Cleanup in conjunction with the 5-foot drawdown. This quinquennial event provides a unique opportunity to make the lake healthier by removing accumulated litter from the exposed lakebed. (You can sign up HERE!)

The impact of our collective efforts during the last Lake-Wide Community Cleanup in 2018 was nothing short of astounding. Over 400 volunteers removed more than 23,000 pounds of debris, including a staggering 800 tires from the lake. Now that's what we call a clean water initiative! You can read more about the history of these lake-wide cleanups HERE.

As we gear up for another 5-foot drawdown this fall, we're once again extending an invitation to you – our community – to join us in this clean-water endeavor. On Saturday, November 4, from 9 am to noon, we're seeking volunteers to help us scour for debris that has found its way into the lake over the years.

There are three ways to assist in this community effort.

1. Volunteer as a Team Leader - To ensure efficiency and safety, we're looking to recruit about 50 team leaders. Team leaders will help recruit and communicate with your volunteer team, pick up and distribute cleanup supplies, review safety guidelines, complete a volunteer sign-in sheet, and track and submit cleanup data for your location.
2. Join a Volunteer Team - Pick a location to join a team and help clean up the lake on November 4! This is also a great opportunity for local groups and organizations to assemble teams for a rewarding community day.
3. Provide an Access Point - Lake-front homeowners and businesses can assist by providing an access point for volunteers to enter. This is particularly effective if you can sign on as a team leader and recruit volunteers for your location!

To clean as much of the 45 miles of shoreline as possible, dozens of access points will be established as a means of entry to the exposed lakebed. A map of current access points can be viewed below.

For those eager to be a part of this endeavor, signing up is simple HERE. You can choose to volunteer or to be a team leader for each available location. If you are a lakefront homeowner or business owner interested in offering an access point, please reach out to our Grants and Programs Director, Donna Macalle-Holly, at donna@lakehopatcongfoundation.org.

To coordinate the cleanup and removal of all the debris cleaned up from the lake, we, along with the Lake Hopatcong Commission, will be working hand in hand with Morris and Sussex Counties’ Clean Communities, each of the four towns around the lake (Hopatcong, Jefferson, Mt. Arlington, Roxbury), New Jersey State Police, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morris County Mosquito Control, Hopatcong State Park, and the Morris County Park Commission. It's truly a community-wide effort!

We are encouraging all participants to capture the spirit of the day by sharing your photos with us. Send your group photos and interesting finds to info@lakehopatcongfoundation.org. We'll create a shareable photo album from the day, and for a fun twist, your submission might even be chosen for categories like "most fashionable find" or "scariest find." Who knows what might turn up that day!

So, mark your calendars for November 4th, rally your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers, and let's come together to make Lake Hopatcong cleaner and more beautiful than ever before. We can't wait to clean the lake! 

If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate to reach out to us at 973-663-2500 or info@lakehopatcongfoundation.org. 

Join us for the cleanup