May 24, 2024| Environment
By: Kyle Richter
Last week, we rolled out a pilot program in Hopatcong called "Socks for Docks." In partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Commission, we provided “socks” of biochar to lakefront residents in Hopatcong to hang off their docks and help remove phosphorus from Lake Hopatcong, which can feed algae growth.
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 program was made possible through funding provided by the Lake Hopatcong Commission via a 319h grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The funding was redirected from a stormwater project in Hopatcong that could not be completed. After distributing socks to Hopatcong lakefront residents, materials for an additional 100 docks remain and are now available to lakefront properties lake-wide.
So, if you are a lakefront resident or represent a swim/sport club with docks and are interested in a pair of socks for your dock, please watch the following informational video, provided by Princeton Hydro, and sign up for a pair of socks via the link below. The first 100 residents to register will be able to pick up their socks on May 30 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.
