Two Lakes, One Problem, and Seeking Solutions : An Environmental History of Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong

Two Lakes, One Problem, Zero Solutions tells a story typical of many lakes around the world. New Jersey’s Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake were isolated until railroads reached them beginning the mid-1800s. They became popular resorts with accommodations catering to many classes of travelers. By the 1880s and 1890s there were luxury hotels for the affluent and picnic pavilions for day-trippers. As the popularity of these lakes continued to grow, there was a boom in second-home construction. These homes laid the foundation for a shift to year-round living after the Second World War. As permanent populations grew, the lakes began to suffer the results of storm water runoff and inadequate septic management. The first adverse effects were excessive weed growth and eutrophication. But as the climate warmed more frequent Harmful Algal Blooms turned an environmental problem into a public health emergency.

This book tells the story of the volunteers, local elected officials, journalists, and scientists who refused to let the lakes deteriorate. Grassroots organizations started the process. Regional planning boards emerged and ultimately there were appointed commissions whose volunteer members pursued scientific studies and large-scale remediation. Often underfunded and unappreciated, these individuals and organizations never gave up.

Then in the summer 2019 Harmful Algal Blooms forced beaches to close and boats to stay at the dock. It was a wakeup call for politicians and the public alike. The organizations who had spent years patiently working were finally able to make substantial progress undoing decades of damage.