Blogfinger photograph of Wesley Lake. By Bo Peep. Nov. 7, 2016.
Wesley Lake. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Blogfinger.net c.2008
We spoke to a Grover who often visits Wesley Lake. Let’s call him Bo Peep. This is what he said.
” I often walk my dog along the OG side of Wesley Lake. It is quite beautiful there. The dog likes to run up and down the steep front yard grassy banks. But the Lake is often disgusting, especially in the summer and especially at the west end.
“Lately conditions are somewhat better, with less garbage floating around. But today I took a photo of the murky water and a plastic bag floating around. Does anybody actually test that water?
“Anyone who says that the water conditions are “fine” is delusional. What is being done about the situation?”
One year ago (Aug. 2015) a resident of Lake Avenue wrote a piece for Blogfinger, and this is most of what David Philo said,
” Pondweed has plagued the Lake the last three years. As a resident of the lakefront I am asked many questions by visitors regarding 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 last year, 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 considered 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.”
In March, 2014, we posted a piece that covered some other related issues such as retaining walls, fish life and desilting projects.
So, how about the rest of you who live near the Lake or who otherwise have an informed interest in the Lake? We would love to hear from you all. Please click on “comment” below and tell us what you know about the Wesley Lake situation.
TERRY BLAINE from her album Whose Honey Are You?
While all of our opinions are worthy of thought I believe expert opinion is needed. Instead of treating the weed growth with herbicides which seems unnatural. How about reaching out to the State, or Maybe Rutgers or the like for some in depth analysis of and how the Lake is in crisis. How to create meaningful improvements. Having attended many Commission meetings there doesn’t seem to be much interest in this approach.
The strange thing is, there is this entity called the Wesley Lake Commission. You only need one person or object responsible for totally neglecting the Lake.
At their next meeting they should dissolve the Commission and appoint a Chair to neglect the Lake.
It’s pretty simple to me. When you have these lakes that function as giant filth-collection tubs because we’re not clever enough, or we don’t care enough, to create a better system, this is what we get. Wesley Lake is a worse case scenario, but if you tested the water quality, health of aquatic life, etc. at other nearby lakes in Bradley, Asbury and so on, they all need help to some degree.
Parking lots with impermeable surfaces are the problem. Water is supposed to soak into the ground and slowly trickle down. Filtering the water that comes into the lake is the solution. More development in the area will just make it worse.
I’d also add that adding a shore with various lakeside plants such as a variety of reeds/grasses and peltandra; anything native is best——vegetation, fishing, different types of birds are desirable.
A boxed-in lake like WL is not healthy. An ideal urban/suburban lake would be Franklin Lake in West Long Branch.
I liked the pondweed because it seemed to be naturally cleaning the lake. Without the “weed” the lake is a Willy Wonka chocolate consistency. With the evil weed, you suddenly saw clear, clean water, and could even see through to the bottom. Bring back the plants.