58:4B-6 Duties, responsibilities of commission.

6. The duties and responsibilities of the Lake Hopatcong Commission shall be to:

a. conduct water quality and water quantity monitoring of Lake Hopatcong to assess conditions and changes thereto over time, and identify the causes and sources of environmental threats and impacts to Lake Hopatcong and its watershed;

b. assess present and projected development, land use, and land management practices and patterns, and determine the effects of those practices and patterns upon the natural, scenic, and recreational resources of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed;

c. develop plans, strategies, policies, ordinances, and funding mechanisms necessary to protect, preserve, restore, maintain, manage, and enhance Lake Hopatcong and its watershed, to be implemented by those entities with representatives on the commission;

d. coordinate with, and make recommendations to, the Department of Environmental Protection with respect to any State plan or program for watershed management, water quality, water supply, stormwater management, nonpoint source pollution, or wastewater management for the area that includes Lake Hopatcong and its watershed;

e. recommend appropriate State legislation and administrative action pertaining to the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management, and enhancement of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed;

f. encourage and assist in the creation of special local improvement districts for purposes beneficial to Lake Hopatcong and its watershed, including control of stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution, and the preservation of significant environmental areas, including wetlands, to control stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution;

g. review and assess the potential impact upon Lake Hopatcong and its watershed of environmental permit applications pending before or received by the Department of Environmental Protection and provided to the commission pursuant to subsection b. of section 8 of this act, and provide recommendations to the Department of Environmental Protection for appropriate action thereon;

h. review and assess the potential impact upon Lake Hopatcong and its watershed of proposed amendments and revisions to municipal master plans, zoning and other ordinances governing land use and development, and applications for specific development projects, which have been provided to the commission pursuant to section 9 of this act, and provide recommendations to the appropriate municipal agency for appropriate action thereon;

i. conduct, manage, and coordinate specific activities and projects pertaining to the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management, and enhancement of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed, including, but not limited to, weed control measures, dredging, installation and maintenance of boat sewage pump outs, and environmental education;

j. encourage individuals, corporations, associations, and organizations to preserve and enhance the natural scenic beauty, and protect and preserve the purity of the waters, of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed, and to engage in environmental education of the public for such purposes; and

k. establish advisory committees and enlist and accept the support and cooperation of organizations of property owners and others interested in promoting the purposes and objectives of this act.

L.2000,c.175,s.6.