Deal Lake

Deal Lake
Location Monmouth County, New Jersey
Coordinates 40°13′54″N 74°00′26″W / 40.23156°N 74.00729°WCoordinates: 40°13′54″N 74°00′26″W / 40.23156°N 74.00729°W
Primary inflows Harvey Brook, Hallow Brook, Storm Water run-off
Primary outflows Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries United States
Surface area 158 acres (0.64 km2)
Average depth 5 to 6 feet (1.8 m)
Surface elevation 3.2 ft (0.98 m) [1] (Lower Main Section)
8 to 9 ft (Upper Sections)

Deal Lake is a man-made lake in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is the largest lake in Monmouth County and one of the largest lakes in New Jersey, occupying 158 acres[2] and drains into the Atlantic Ocean.

Seven municipalities border the narrow fingers of Deal Lake, accounting for 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline including, the Boroughs of Allenhurst, Deal, and Interlaken, the City of Asbury Park, the Village of Loch Arbour, and the townships of Neptune, and Ocean.

Deal Lake, like many urban and suburban bodies of water experienced serious environment pollutant problems in the mid 20th century, in 1974 the Deal Lake Commission[3] was formed to help save the lake.

Deal lake is a fresh water lake, but is "unique" because it has spawning saltwater fish, including alewives, blueback herring and gizzard shad.

History

Deal Lake has gone by many names over the years including Lake Uliquecks, White's Pond, Hogs Swamp Pond, Corlies Pond, Great Pond and Boyleston Great Pond.

Originally an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, starting in 1890 Deal Lake was altered to its present form, with the closing off the inlet from the ocean and creation of several separate lakes and ponds. Deal Lake was a model system of the late nineteenth century for Flood Control and Storm Water Management. Over time, the lake lured many to build along its banks. Today, almost the entire shoreline has been developed with many homes built within the 100 year flood plain.[4]

In the late 1890s the Ross Fenton Farm was established as a popular entertainment spot on the Wanamassa banks of Deal Lake.[5]

References

  1. ↑ above mean high tide
  2. ↑ Bates, Todd. "Deal Lake attracts nature lovers of all kinds", Asbury Park Press, October 20, 2005. Accessed May 15, 2007
  3. ↑ Deal Lake, Monmouth County, NJ
  4. ↑ Deal Lake Commission
  5. ↑ Ross Fenton Farm

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deal Lake.