West end of Wesley Lake. June 8, 2020. Blogfinger staff photograph. ©
Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC. Blogfinger.net.
Over the years at Blogfinger we have written about the death of Wesley Lake. We reviewed the history of the Lake and learned that it is a natural resource, governed by tidal flows, and old maps show that. Those posts can be found with a search of our archives (see search block—upper right home page.)
In our post today about the Public Trust Doctrine we find that tidal waterways are to be protected and also include “filled lands formerly flowed by the tide.” Wesley Lake qualifies. These resources are owned by the people of New Jersey under the watch of the State of New Jersey.
Over the years the streams that brought beautiful clear water to Wesley Lake became covered over due to development, and the old maps showed such streams.
History books tell of the vibrant ecology of the Lake, with wild life including shore birds, fish and other creatures. Ferries and boats plied the lake, and during Illumination Night hundreds of boats were part of a wonderful nautical celebration with thousands of participants along the shores. Over the years the late historian Ted Bell took an interest in Wesley Lake and also the late Jack Bredin, an activist member of our staff.
In recent years the Lake became more and more filthy aggravated by dirty street water runoff, development, fertilizers, various toxins, car washers, oil and gasoline leaks (some still undiscovered) and dog poops.
The Wesley Lake Commission, sponsored by A. Park and OG, has failed to clean up the Lake, and now we can look forward to a large commercial development at the Ocean Grove North End where the developers (OGNED) have failed to explain how they will effectively deal with runoff.
The last and only minutes available from the Commission are from January 2020. A citizen stood up to speak:
Member of the Public – Ernest G. Mignoli
Lives in 400 Deal Lake Drive, Asbury Park (Santander Building).
He said, “Engineers are the main speakers at the Commission meetings and generally working for the developers*. Ocean Grove North End Development project will have an effect on all in the area. Will create chaos in both Asbury and Ocean Grove. All of the lakes in Asbury and Ocean Grove need to be protected.”
A multi-million dollar dredging is required, and the toxins in the lake are largely camouflaged within the thick mud on the bottom.
Blogfinger photo above says it all.
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger
* That is true. Jack and I went to a meeting to hear a hired gun—an engineer, testify that the Lake was man-made. That was a lie, bought by whoever paid him.
We tried to ask him a few questions after the meeting, but he brushed us off as he rushed down the stairs and out into the night behind the Mother Ship.
BF post from 2017 on this topic : https://wp.me/pqmj2-HaD
SEAN HAYES AND KATIE FINNERAN from the Broadway show Promises, Promises.