This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2024 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund grants aimed at the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The DEP is tasked with establishing a program to allocate these funds to qualified entities, which include various commissions, local government units, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to lake management. The bill emphasizes the importance of improving water quality and increasing recreational access, particularly through projects that control nutrient levels to prevent harmful algal blooms.

Additionally, the bill mandates the DEP to develop criteria for evaluating and ranking grant applications, prioritizing those submitted by entities responsible for lakes with public access and those focused on enhancing water quality. Grants may also be utilized for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities that directly benefit lake use for recreation and conservation. The definition of "qualified entity" is clearly outlined, encompassing specific commissions and organizations involved in lake management. This initiative follows a previous appropriation of $10 million for similar purposes during the 2020-2021 legislative session.