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Facts and Information about Lake Hopatcong
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Please find below a list of information sources about Lake Hopatcong's water levels, including USGS Lake Level and Outlfow Data, Lake Water Management Plans, and more.

Lake Hopatcong Water Management Plans

Lake Hopatcong Water Level (Please note that the normal level is between 9.0-9.5)

Lake Water Discharge Rate CFS (1CFS=646,316GPD)

Lake Area Rain Data

Streamflow Data downstream on Musconetcong River

May 2009 Report: Why Lake Hopatcong is Unusable and Probablities for Recovery

     Excessive water Dumped from Lake

     Hopatcong Between 12/15 thru 1/6

Actual CFS

Actual Gallons

Permitted Gallons

Overage

Approximate

released

released

as per Lake Mgmt

dumped

Inches

thru LH Dam

thru LH Dam

Plan

per day

Extra

15-Dec

48

31,023,339

7,500,000

23,523,339

0.36

16-Dec

51

32,962,298

7,500,000

25,462,298

0.39

17-Dec

153

98,886,894

7,500,000

91,386,894

1.40

18-Dec

178

115,044,883

7,500,000

107,544,883

1.65

19-Dec

173

111,813,285

7,500,000

104,313,285

1.60

20-Dec

168

108,581,688

7,500,000

101,081,688

1.55

21-Dec

166

107,289,048

7,500,000

99,789,048

1.53

22-Dec

113

73,034,111

7,500,000

65,534,111

1.00

23-Dec

53

34,254,937

7,500,000

26,754,937

0.41

24-Dec

68

43,949,731

7,500,000

36,449,731

0.56

25-Dec

78

50,412,926

7,500,000

42,912,926

0.66

25-Dec

79

51,059,246

7,500,000

43,559,246

0.67

27-Dec

79

51,059,246

7,500,000

43,559,246

0.67

28-Dec

79

51,059,246

7,500,000

43,559,246

0.67

29-Dec

83

53,644,524

7,500,000

46,144,524

0.71

30-Dec

88

56,876,122

7,500,000

49,376,122

0.76

31-Dec

89

57,522,442

7,500,000

50,022,442

0.77

1-Jan

89

57,522,442

7,500,000

50,022,442

0.77

2-Jan

89

57,522,442

7,500,000

50,022,442

0.77

3-Jan

89

57,522,442

7,500,000

50,022,442

0.77

4-Jan

89

57,522,442

7,500,000

50,022,442

0.77

5-Jan

64

41,364,452

7,500,000

33,864,452

0.52

6-Jan

54

34,901,257

7,500,000

27,401,257

0.42

1,434,829,443

172,500,000

1,262,329,443

19.32

30-Apr

Noon

Reservoir Storage (mgal):

5340

Height:

Adding missing Gallonage:

1262

What Lake would have had:

6602

Height:

(Looked up gallonage in USGS Fall history to determine comparable height)

Height of lake elevation lost due to mismanagement of dam:

1.61

feet, which is

19.32

inches

"Actual CFS"

As reported by USGS data.  Please click here to view data source.

"Actual Gallons"

CFS*60*60*24/.13368

"Permitted Gallons"

As per Lake Hopatcong Water Level Management Plan, effective 1990

"Overage"

Actual MGD-Permitted MGD

"Approx Inches Extra"

% of total extra dumpage for day times total extra inches lost

This excludes other days which DEP did not allow lake to rise when ice was unable to support 100 pounds.

On such days, the lake management plan also calls for the dam to be at 7.5mgd to allow recovery,

and lake would have been even higher, approximately 1.75 to 2 feet depending on days agreed upon.

Calculated by John Kurzman, Lake Hopatcong, after originally discovering the DEP deviations.


This table shows the volume of water and the inches of lake level lost by mismanagement of dam.  If 19.13 inches were retained as they should have been, Lake Hopatcong would currently be at elevation 8.0 and in relatively safe condition.

Lake_water_flow_diagram_web_photo_5-1-09.jpg

Inches in Lake Hopatcong elevation lost out of dam since May 1, 2009

No Outflow /

Outflow closed

3MGD outflow

4.2MDG outflow

7.5MGD outflow

1-Jun

0

1.36”

1.91”

3.41”

1-Jul

0

2.73”

3.82”

6.82”

1-Aug

0

4.09”

5.73”

10.23”

1-Sep

0

5.45”

7.64”

13.64”


This figure shows the inches of Lake level discharged from the lake based on the outflow of the lake.  (Ex. With 4.2MGD outflow, 7.64 inches are lost by 9/1/09)

Environment Effected in Lake Hopatcong

Below are just some of the detrimental environmental affects of low water in Lake Hopatcong. 

 

Fish, Waterfowl and Fauna

  • Fish
    • Disturbing spawning and migration habits in shallow areas
    • Food chain disturbed: Baitfish lack cover and protection from shallow flats
    • Lower lake level allows greater sunlight penetration and less water volume, heats water faster resulting in higher water temps that could damage fish
  • Waterfowl
    • Previous shoreline nesting areas further from water, less protection and escape routes may damage breeding and migrations
    • Shallow flats are no longer available for feeding
    • Water pollution: increased chance of feces pollution issues from Canada Goose
  • Fauna
    • Shoreline fauna no longer has water available and not growing
    • Shoreline and land based fauna migrate to wetlands areas
    • Invasive fauna overtake native fauna as native fauna grows weak and displaced
  • Aquatic weed:
    • Weeds previously confined to shallow areas now extend further out into the lake and grow. Weeds remain present when the lake fills.
    • Lower lake level, less water volume and greater sunlight penetration increase water temps which promotes algae blooms and weed growth
    • Low water level prohibits access for mechanical harvesters. No weed mass can be removed.  Phosphorus levels increase and sediment levels increase.
  • Water quality
    • Less water volume prohibits dilution and results in higher concentrations of toxins or debris that enters lake
      • Septic system issues
      • Phosphorous levels issues
      • Oils and other remnants from cars
      • Storm water runoff
      • Pollen and tree debris
  • Emergency water source
    • Less water level equals less water volume equals higher risk if drought occurs
    • Less volume equals less water available for downstream rivers
    • Poor water quality suggests water left not usable if risk occurs
  • Insect and disease
    • Low water levels allow for small pools and poor water circulation which promotes mosquito and insect populations
      • Increased insect populations will increase disease possibilities
    • Shallow-no water-exposed wetlands may create poor smell, etc

Low Water Level affects on Human Environment

    • Recreation loss: boating, fishing, canoeing, swimming
    • Businesses: Marinas, marine subcontractors and vendors, restaurants, delis, gas stations, real estate agents, etc
      • Domino effect to subcontractors, vendors, etc
      • Unemployment increase
      • Potential bankrupt businesses
    • Summer vacation destination lost
      • 100,000’s thousand vacationers
    • Homeowners
      • Loss of recreation aspect
      • Home devaluations
      • Lower real estate sales and transfers
      • Septic system issues
      • No emergency vehicle access to Halsey and Raccoon Island