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Watershed restoration at Deal, Sunset and Wesley Lake was given the go ahead, thanks to a Department of Environmental Protection grant, Deal Lake Commissioner Don Brockel announced at Thursday night’s meeting.

The Water Quality Restoration Grants [WQRG], known informally as a 319 Grant, totals $735,000 and will be used to improve the three water bodies located [in part or totality] in Asbury Park.

“The Christie Administration has a longstanding commitment to improving water quality throughout the state,” Commissioner Bob Martin said in a written statement. “This project – like the others selected – cover a wide array of strategies that will reduce ecological impacts caused by stormwater and improve the quality of life in our communities.”

At Deal Lake, the funding will be used for a drop in a Manufactured Treatment Device [MTD] in the main, 48 inch, one-mile-long line, Brockel said. They will also put in a three or four tree boxes to help with the filtration process.

Sunset Lake will receive two larger floating islands to help with the filtration process as well as filtration tree boxes.

And, Wesley Lake will be outlined with tree boxes and bio filters designed to remove silt and pollution from from surface runoff, Brokel said.

“It’s great that everyone worked together to further the improvement of our environment,” City Manager Michael Capabianco said. “I’m thankful to the DEP for seeing the region as an environmental leader.”  

The Deal Lake Commission will serve as overseers for the three projects. The Commission governs Deal Lake, which is bordered by Asbury Park, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, and Neptune and Ocean townships.

“We are very excited,” Brockel said. He thanked everyone involved, Sen. Jennifer Beck [R-11] and each of the municipalities who submitted letters of support.

Funding for the WQRG grant came from the State’s Corporate Business Tax, Natural Resource Damage settlements secured by the DEP, and money from the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act.

“The projects being funded by these grants serve to remind all of us of the importance of caring for our waterways,” DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources Management Dan Kennedy said. “The public should always be mindful of the impacts their daily activities can have on the health of our waterways, as well as the fish and other aquatic life that depend on them.”

For more information on the Water Quality Restoration Grants, click here, and For more information about stormwater pollution, click here.

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