May 14, 2024| Environment
By: Kyle Richter
No, we are not talking about putting a covering on your dock to keep it from getting cold! But we are talking about socks of biochar!
The Lake Hopatcong Commission and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation have partnered together to provide “Socks” of biochar to lake front residents in Hopatcong Borough, to hang off their docks and help remove phosphorus from Lake Hopatcong.
Biochar, a form of charcoal produced from organic materials, like wood chips or agricultural waste, offers a promising solution to the lake’s phosphorus problem. When submerged in water, biochar acts as a sponge, effectively capturing and immobilizing phosphorus, preventing it from being available for algae growth.
This pilot program has been made possible through funding provided by the Lake Hopatcong Commission through a 319h grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This funding was redirected from a stormwater project in Hopatcong that was unable to be completed.
If you are a Hopatcong resident or represent a swim/sport club with docks in Hopatcong and are interested in a sock (or a pair of socks!) for your dock, please watch the informational video below, provided by Princeton Hydro. Sign up for a sock via the link below. Socks will be available for pick up on May 23 from 5 to 7 pm at Hopatcong State Park.
If you have questions about Sock for Docks, please email Kyle Richter kyle@lakehopatcongfoundation.org or Colleen Lyons colleen@lakehopatcongcommission.org.
