Major Issue for Small Businesses, Tourists, Residents in Greenwood Lake & Lake Hopatcong Region

New investment made possible by American Rescue Plan passed by Congress

NORTH JERSEY — As the summer season kicks off, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) is helping claw back new federal investment from Washington to North Jersey for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to address Harmful Algal Blooms impacting North Jersey’s lakes’ water, local businesses and recreation, and families. The federal investment — made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan passed by Congress — is creating a new grant program to support Jersey’s lakes.

The grant program will invest in projects to mitigate stormwater and runoff that can flow fertilizers and pollutants into lakes. Fertilizers can contribute to algae growth that is unhealthy for humans and the environment.

“With the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress, we’re now clawing back federal investment to New Jersey to help fight back against Harmful Algal Blooms and their detrimental impacts on our recreation, tourism, local small businesses, and residents,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We’ve continued to sound the alarm, we’ve successfully pushed the state for targeted local investment, and now, with this new federal investment, we’re continuing our work to prevent another summer of algae that has wreaked havoc on our lakes, our businesses, our families, and our broader community. This investment is good for our environment, good for our economy, good for our eco-tourism, and good for the health and safety of our families. It’s a win-win-win.”

For years, Gottheimer has sounded the alarm on the dangers of HABs to North Jersey’s lakes, recreation, local businesses, and residents.

Gottheimer’s work to combat HABs includes:

• Gottheimer passed a provision in the House to address the HABs impacting many North Jersey lakes by ensuring a U.S. Geological Survey be reported to Congress on ways to combat toxic HABs like those found in Greenwood Lake.
• Gottheimer met with New Jersey congressional, state, local, and environmental leaders as the State of New Jersey announced steps to combat HABs in Jersey’s lakes. 
• Gottheimer and the Greenwood Lake Commission called for further emergency investment to combat toxic algae harming Jersey lakes, drinking water, and jobs. 

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