Sinking water levels are draining the wallets of those whose livelihood depends on the marina at Lake Hopatcong.

"To put it [in] one word ? disaster," says Ray Fernandez, whose family has run the Bridge Marina for 50 years. "It's a terrible thing. Our entire business depends upon water and that's one thing we don't have."

News 12 New Jersey has learned the lake's water levels are about two feet below normal. Business owners like Fernandez say owners of large boats are too scared to put them in the water, drying up the local economy. They also point the blame at the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP opens floodgates of the lake's dam every year so docks can be repaired. The DEP has been accused of going overboard with this year's draining, but maintain the low levels are due to a lack of rain over the winter.

Fernandez has filed a lawsuit to stop the draining of Lake Hopatcong. DEP officials say they plan to review the lake management plan after the lawsuit is resolved.