The Problem For questions and comments The Dredging of is has been identified please visit our website at as being “impaired” by the www.gwlc.org Greenwood Lake Department of Environmental Protection Or write or call and the Department of Environmental Conservation, primarily due to an overload of nutrients. The The Greenwood Lake lake contains an excessive amount of Commission organic rich fine sediment. It has been P.O. Box 1110, Greenwood discovered that several feet of sediment Lake NY 10925 has accumulated in the lake since its creation in 1836, over 150 years ago. This sediment has been transported into NJ Chair—Ella Filippone the lake from the surrounding (973) 532-9830 watershed. NY Chair—Steve Defeo (845) 477-2887

How This Happened The process of Sedimentation occurs when Stormwater Runoff (excess An Important Step rainwater that has not seeped into the soil after a significant storm) breaks up Toward soil and causes individual soil particles to detach or erode. These soil particles, The Enhancement along with any chemicals or nutrients such as phosphorus, are then deposited Of Your Beautiful into your lakes and streams. Lake Dredging : To dig out loose, excess sediment (sand, silt, mud etc.) from the lake bottom

Effects of Sedimentation Dredging will benefit those living and enjoying recreational activities on Greenwood Lake. It will also improve the ecology and fish habitat of this Aesthetic popular resource. This will be accomplished in several ways... Greenwood Lake is often cloudy and brown due to sediments deposited into Increase the depth of the lake, thereby Restore overall storage capacity of the lake. Sediments are re-suspended improving boating and other Greenwood Lake during certain seasons and give the lake recreational opportunities • Water supply a very cloudy appearance. As time • Water depths range from 4 to 7 feet in • Flood control passes, the lake becomes more and proposed dredging locations • Increase of over 200 million gallons more unappealing. • Increase these depths to around 10 than what it is today feet Water Quality Reduce the amount of sediments as Chemicals and nutrients such as Provide a tangible benefit to the water well as the nutrients and chemicals phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizer quality and supplies of downstream attached to the sediments and septic runoff adhere to soil particles reservoirs and create water quality problems when • Wanaque River they are deposited into the lake. • Wanaque Reservoir • Monksville Reservoir Excessive nutrients stimulate the growth Remove rooted nuisance aquatic plants • 3.5 million people served of aquatic plants and algae. This is along with sediments currently being experienced by Greenwood Lake Facilitate potential flood control measures Ecological

Increased sediments will significantly alter the ecological balance of the lake. Sediments clog fish gills and smother fish eggs and other forms of aquatic life. They also reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating lakes. This affects water temperature and other processes as well.