Mount Arlington Borough, New Jersey, has received $560,000 in federal funding to support dredging at Memorial Pond, a stormwater basin that helps manage runoff before it enters Lake Hopatcong.

U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) secured the funding, which will support engineering, environmental analysis and dredging to remove sediment that has accumulated in the pond over time.

The project is intended to restore the pond’s stormwater management capacity and help protect water quality in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest lake. Sediment can carry nutrients into downstream waters, contributing to harmful algal blooms and other water quality concerns.

“What enters Memorial Pond doesn't stay in Memorial Pond, eventually it all flows straight into Lake Hopatcong,” said Kyle Richter, executive director of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, emphasizing the connection between the pond’s condition and the health of the downstream lake.

The funding was welcomed by local and state officials, who said the project will benefit the surrounding community and the broader region by improving water quality and supporting recreational use of Lake Hopatcong.