More Of Lake Hopatcong Reopens As Summer Ends

LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ — Large swaths of Lake Hopatcong are now reopen to swimming and water sports, just as the summer ends.

Starting on Friday, a harmful algae bloom advisory was lifted at the mouth of Wood Port Bay, east of Davis Cove Mid-Lake and the Bertrand Island area. The advisory remains in effect in "Mid-Lake (in the lower-central portion of the lake), the Prospect Point and Wood Port Bay area in the northeastern arm of the lake, the Crescent Cove/River Styx area and the area adjacent to Hopatcong State Park," the DEP says. (You can see a map of the cleared areas below.)

A lake-wide harmful algae bloom advisory was put in place just before New Jersey schools released for the summer, and remained in place for most of the lake throughout the entire season.

Levels of cyanobacteria, the bacteria behind the blooms, must be below 20,000 cells per milliliter to be safe for swimming.

During the advisory, people and pets are advised against coming into contact with the water. This includes swimming, jet skiing, and other more active water activities. Any fish caught should not be eaten. There is no advisory for passive water activities that do not include water contact.

While summer might be officially over, boaters could squeeze in one last weekend on the lake. Temperatures are supposed to reach into the mid-80s both days the last weekend in September.