Wesley Lake. By David Philo. August, 2015 © Special to Blogfinger.net.
By David Philo, Ocean Grove homeowner. David lives on Lake Avenue.
This picture of Wesley Lake shows the growth of Pondweed that has plagued the Lake the last three years. As a resident of the Lakefront I am asked many questions by visitors about what is going on and what is being done. I will relate what I know here.
The Wesley Lake Commission is a joint body consisting of Asbury Park and Neptune township officials. Recently some residents have been appointed. The CMA is mostly absent from the monthly meetings which are the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 5:30 PM at the Neptune Township building.
After the initial weed bloom the Commission hired a respected expert and business owner to analyze and treat the weeds, Dr. Souza. At that time an herbicide was sprayed and in time the weed bloom subsided. This year the bloom has been more intense and not responsive to the herbicide, which has been applied at least twice. I missed this month’s meeting so I cannot relate if the 3rd treatment was done. As anyone can see, the Pondweed persists.
Dr. Souza has stated that some nutrient source is likely responsible for the bloom, such as fertilizer, goose excrement, runoff, or even sewage.
The sad thing as far as I am concerned is that the trash/litter that floats in the weed islands is treated by the Commission as an inevitable result of the Lake’s being an “urban body of water”.
The Commission is planning to raise independent funds to further their efforts to improve the condition of Wesley Lake. The Friends of Wesley Lake is working with the Commission on this and other issues. To date the aerators that are now in place are the most visible results of the Commission’s ability to raise money.
There is a fall cleanup scheduled, and volunteers will be needed.
I also hope that anyone who can will participate in helping with the fundraising. I think the evidence is very visible that this is a Lake in crisis.
David Philo
August 20, 2015
Repair to the Lake wall is part of the North End Redevelopment Plan, but it remains to be seen if that project, as proposed in 2008, ever happens. The reason they must include the wall is that a giant construction project at the North End would cause the current wall to collapse.
Friends of Wesley Lake have been attending meetings of the Wesley Lake Commission for the past year and posting notes on their Facebook page. Please read these reports for the ugly truth about the Lake and the Commission.
A few comments and corrections to this post:
1) Pond weed grew out of control this spring partly because herbicide treatment was delayed. This was because Asbury Park refused to fund the treatment that the Commission had contracted for, and which Neptune was ready to fund. The Citizens for Wesley Lake (a predecessor to the “Friends”) stepped up and agreed to fund the treatment so that there would be no further delay. Citizens also funded the two new aerators which were purchased by them and installed by DPW. The Citizens organization had funds available from fundraisers held in years past. The two groups are considering a merger.
2) The Friends have announced another Lake clean-up for September 12. We will post details when they are available.
3) The causes for the condition of the Lake are much too complicated to detail here. Suffice it to say that the Commission’s experts estimate that $1.5 million is needed for dredging, and an additional $5 million for repairs to holes in the bulkhead wall. The two towns allege that they do not have funds for the Lake. Private fundraisers are being discussed, drawing on the energy and facilities of the new businesses on the Lake.
It is frustrating that Asbury’s new found prosperity and our taxes are not resulting in more public funding for the Lake. And,as mentioned, that the CMA seems to be completely uninterested.
Thank you, Mr. Philo, for posting this. The current condition of Wesley Lake is an embarrassment to both Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. To allow such a natural beauty and asset to deteriorate to this condition is wrong.
I will be at the fall cleanup and I hope some of the elected officials from both towns will join in to support.
Herbicide? Seeps into the water table or drains into the ocean. Not to mention the added nutrition given the wildlife.
Start over. Needs to be drained and dredged. Pond Weed needs shallow water to flourish like this. Never gonna happen though.