Blogfinger.net 2018. Wesley Lake; OG side.
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net.
Sometime after starting Blogfinger I reported on a meeting of the “Friends of Wesley Lake” held on a lovely porch in OG overlooking the water. There were about 20 people present including a contingent from Asbury Park. I thought I recalled that meeting on BF recently, but let’s do it again.
First, here is a link to a post on Blogfinger from 2017 about environmental concerns at Wesley Lake:
In that post I mention the concern which I am focusing on now as the town fathers and mothers prepare to allow our North End to be torn up for an inappropriate development. There are a number of environmental issues expressed in the past on Blogfinger as well as recently. We recently mentioned the worry about asbestos contaminating the area around the Asbury Steam Plant.
Now I want to shine a light on the concerns about the Asbury side near the west end of the Lake. The Asburians at the meeting mentioned that there is more to worry about than dead fish due to sludge and crap in the water. Remember, a large portion of the North End Redevelopment Plan borders the lake, and toxins could be found in the water, the bottom of the lake and in the surrounding dirt.
They revealed that there are known contaminated and leaky deteriorated metal tanks with gasoline and oil to worry about near the west end of the lake.. At that time we were told that such issues could not be solved due to lack of funding. I have never heard this topic mentioned again, but that might surface now that the 3 acres at our north end are about to be dug up deep.
Wesley Lake 2018. Ocean Grove is to the right. The ocean is straight ahead. The North End project is also straight ahead. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
So, if anyone plans to inquire about recent toxic testing, let’s not forget the words of the US Environmental Protection Agency:
“Petroleum releases contain contaminants that can make water unsafe or unpleasant to drink and can make exposure to petroleum contaminated soil or air harmful. Releases can also result in fire and explosion hazards, lead to long-term health effects, and adversely affect surface water environments.”
MOZART: “Motet in D Major;”
So-called “gasoline plumes” from leaking tanks is a major concern. There are cases where homeowners had fumes entering their cellars. Back in the 1990s, it seemed every gas station in NYC was replacing its tanks and placing them in a concrete containment chamber as required by law.
My building’s oil tank was placed in the basement within a room with an access door placed well above the floor. Formerly, the tank was out in the lawn. This had to be emptied, cleaned by hand, and then filled with sand as we did not remove it. Gasoline leaks are not uncommon and there are various ways to remediate them. I imagine none are inexpensive.
David H. Fox
There is an empty lot at the corner of Main Street (Rt 71) and Corlies Ave (Rt 33.). That Shafto property should have been developed but it remains empty. We were told that the property is condemned due to toxic petroleum residues in the soil. This sounds like a similar problem which this post references.
David: Thank you. Your comment is about sediment, dredging, and outflow drainage into the ocean.
But this post is about chemical contamination under the ground due to reported gas and oil leakage. If there are toxic underground areas near the lake at the west end, as was described to me by Asbury experts, related to prior oil and gas facilities, then experts need to be brought in to check for such toxic waste which could result in seepage into the ground and then into the lake.
It reminds me of when homeowners have to remove old oil tanks; but I wonder if Asbury Park has study results regarding these supposed leaking underground sources. Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
OGNED should take an interest in these concerns because they will have people living there, tourism, walkers around the lake, and swan boats. Why is it that no one is ever seen with a row boat, a sail boat, swimming, etc?
Wesley Lake dredging campaigns took place in 1912, 1933, 1938, 1954, 1975, and following the Sandy Storm. (2012).
In 1929, a submerged settling basin was created at the west end of the lake. The idea was that sediments would accumulate here and be more easily removed than dredging the whole lake.
I thought the lake looked improved this past summer over previous years with chemical treatments for algae, aeration fountains, floating gardens, and lights to repel geese.
The recent overflowing of the lake was apparently due to the outflow pipe. At a meeting, it was mentioned that the functioning of this is strongly affected by tides and wind direction.
The construction of a second pipe was mentioned to allow more drainage into the ocean, as well as a check valve to prevent ocean water from entering the pipe.