GWL Commission approves lake drawdown

WEST MILFORD — The Greenwood Lake Commission approved a plan for a drawdown of Greenwood Lake scheduled to begin in October and lasting through winter, weather permitting.

This comes a month after the commission tabled the plan because they had questions about the date to begin refilling the lake. Since then, they gathered information and were satisfied that they could do begin refilling the lake before the Feb. 15, 2017 date specified

The New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection stipulates the drawdown be done from the second Tuesday of October, which will be Oct. 11, 2016, until Feb. 15, 2017. The commissioners were concerned that the lake wouldn't fill up in time for the boating season. But Commissioner Paul Zarrillo said they have contacted the DEP and the fill date can be changed to an earlier date.

The refill is weather dependent, said Zarrillo.

Wednesday night, 10 commissioners voted to approve the drawdown plan, while one abstained and one was not present, according to Zarrillo.

"A committee will be meeting on Feb. 11 to formulate and move requirements forward for an Oct. 11, 2016 drawdown, weather permitting," Zarrillo said.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Environmental Conservation must approve the request by the commission.

A drawdown will allow homeowners and business owners to do repairs on their docks. In addition, the lower level of the lake would allow the commission to do some work on the stumps in the lake that cause much damage to boaters. Vegetation is also frozen and dies during a drawdown.

At two public hearings held last year, just 20 people came out and expressed their opinions on the drawdown. Seventeen were in favor of it and three were not. Those three were marina owners, Zarrillo said.

Zarrillo said he will return to the township council about applying for a bulk permit that could save residents a lot as they repair and maintain their docks. He already contacted the council prior to this vote in an effort to streamline the process for residents and business owners. The bulk permit would be cheaper to get than individual permits and the process would be streamlined if the township did it for all.

The previous drawdown
The last drawdown was done in 2011-2012. At that time, the dam in Hewitt was opened, letting out 131 million gallons of water per day, as per the state of New Jersey Water Level Management Plan. Because of a dry winter, the lake was still two feet below what it should have been on Memorial Day.

What do you think about a drawdown? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and share your thoughts.