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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

Sadly the 2016 Deal Lake Commission [DLC], which is the custodian of the lake, still does not have the answer to this question I asked at the March 17, 2016 Public Hearing on their 2016 Deal Lake Master Plan.

Each Commissioner to the DLC represents their respective community: Allenhurst, Deal, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Neptune Twp., Ocean Twp. and Loch Arbor.

I am a 13-year lakefront property owner and it is extremely frustrating for me to watch fishing off the Wickapecko Bridge and in the lake and to watch water recreational activities knowing what both the DLC and I know.

My major concern has been and continues to be: “Are the fish being caught safe to eat, and for the lake’s  recreational activities  including canoeing,  paddle boarding, kayaking, etc. where water contact occurs from splashing or falling into the water, is the water safe from coliform bacteria and other pathogens?

In February 2008, the DLC issued a Report titled “The State of Deal Lake – 2007.” Highlights are:

– The very first sentence reads: “The environmental state of Deal Lake is extremely poor.  Pollutants exceed state mandated levels.  In many sections of the lake, the water is unfit for human contact.”

– “Human fecal coliform is finding its way into Deal Lake.”

– “Deal Lake is on the NJ DEP 2006 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies related to pH and Pathogen impairments.  These contaminants have been repeatedly documented.”

Another 2007 DLC goal was “complete mapping of the sanitary sewer lines.”  Discussions back then also included active and abandoned septic tanks as possible contamination sources. Are they still active and going into the lake?

I also advised them that I contacted the NJ Department of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Fresh Water and Biological Monitoring and the Monmouth County Health Department. Testing for Coliform Bacteria E. Coli has NOT been done since 2007 or 2008.

Deal Lake is an ‘Impaired Lake’ by the State of New Jersey [standards].  Why does the DLC restock the lake with fish without advising the community knowing what’s in the 2007 Report?  The DLC is planning to have a CARP fishing tournament [on April 17].  As a minimum, they should post signs “Recreational Fishing ONLY” or the NJ State Fish Advisory Report for Deal Lake.

Why isn’t the “The State of Deal Lake -2007” Report on the DLC website so the public can learn the facts about the poor condition of the lake?

So, ask your Mayor and respective DLC Commissioner to IMMEDIATELY have this 2007 report put on the DLC website.

Then read their 2016 Master Plan and ask why nothing has been done to follow up on the prior DLC recommendations to address the contamination issues of Deal Lake.

The question is real: IS DEAL LAKE WATER STILL CONTAMINATED?

Marty Martino of Ocean Township

Friends of Deal Lake,  Chairman – Water Quality

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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