Volunteers needed for road salt impact study

December 01, 2021| Environment, People

By: Donna Macalle-Holly

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation and Lake Hopatcong Commission will once again participate in the NJ Road Salt Impact Study organized by the New Jersey Watershed Watch Network. The project engages community scientists to assess the impacts of winter road salting on New Jersey freshwater, nontidal water bodies, and to find out if chloride levels spike after a road salting event.  We are looking for interested volunteers to collect road salt data in the Lake Hopatcong Watershed through the winter. 

Last year, data was collected from four sites around Lake Hopatcong. This year six sites will be studied.  

• Jefferson Canals - Route 15 Southbound, Jefferson
• Lake Winona Outlet - Lorretacong Road, Jefferson
• Stream near Edith Decker School - Howard Boulevard, Mount Arlington
• Witten Park - Maxim Drive and Hudson Avenue, Hopatcong
• Memorial Park Pond – Howard Boulevard, Mount Arlington
• Musconetcong River at Hopatcong State Park - Lakeside Boulevard, Landing

Virtual training and supplies will be provided. No experience is necessary. Volunteers will visit their site(s) to grab a water sample and use a test strip to measure the chloride level on 3 wet days and 3 dry days before the end of March.  Each site measurement takes approximately 10 minutes.  Volunteers will then submit their data and site photos through a simple online form.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@lakehopatcongfoundation.org. For more information on this study or to review the statewide results to date including the Lake Hopatcong sites, click here.