Bill > A2668

Introduced Session

This bill would provide funding to the Lake Hopatcong Commission to address and prevent harmful algal blooms. The bill would provide for a supplemental appropriation of $4 million for fiscal year 2022, and an annual appropriation for these purposes beginning in fiscal year 2022. The methods and strategies for preventing further harmful algal blooms may include, but would need not be limited to: (1) assisting municipalities surrounding Lake Hopatcong in preventing point and nonpoint source pollution from entering Lake Hopatcong; (2) working with businesses, private individuals, nonprofit organizations, and any other relevant entities to encourage best land use practices to prevent further harmful algal blooms; (3) coordinating with the Department of Environmental Protection to develop new projects or enhance any existing projects or programs for watershed management, including nonpoint source pollution control; and (4) coordinating with the Natural Resource Conservation Service in the United States Department of Agriculture, and any other relevant federal entity to develop new projects or enhance any existing projects and programs for watershed management, including nonpoint source pollution control. The bill provides for the supplemental appropriation and the annual appropriations to be made from the Trenton Capital City Aid Program. In the early summer of 2019, the Department of Environmental Protection detected cyanobacteria, a form of harmful algal bloom, in Lake Hopatcong and subsequently advised against making any contact with the water. Exposure to these harmful algal blooms can cause a range of health effects, including rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, gastroenteritis, respiratory irritation, skin rashes and eye irritation. A major contributor to harmful algal blooms is excessive nutrient loading in the water caused by runoff into Lake Hopatcong. This bill provides funding to the Lake Hopatcong Commission to address the current harmful algal bloom, and to take steps to prevent further harmful algal blooms from occurring in the future.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jay Webber (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document