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Deal Lake will undergo water quality testing for the first time in years, according to news release from the Friends of Deal Lake, an organized group of area residents who work to protect the County’s largest body of water.

“After years of concerns and repeated requests for information about the quality of Deal Lake water, and no meaningful responses or actions, Monmouth County Freeholder John Curley has stepped forward and is providing the leadership and actions to provide answers and allow the public to make informed decisions,” the news statement said.

Deal Lake, bordered by Asbury Park, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune and Ocean townships, is also governed by the Deal Lake Commission.

Last month, Curley [shown at right with Commission Chair Don Brockel] was among the over 150 volunteers to attend the Commission’s Deal Lake Clean-up, which resulted in over 4000 pounds of material being removed from Deal Lake

The man made waterbody feeds directly into ocean waters and beaches along Asbury Park, Loch Arbour, Allenhurst, Deal, and Ocean Grove, making water quality an ongoing concern.

The lake is a popular fishing, boating, and other recreational activities.

Curley, after organizing a meeting that included Friends of Deal Lake members as well as County public health and engineering professionals, moved ahead with the initiative.

The lake water testing will provide a baseline for further testing in order to identify trends and information for corrective actions, according to the news release. Once established, the data can be used to support funding requests and proposals.

A testing start date has not been set but updates will be posted to the Friends of Deal Lake Facebook page. For more about Deal Lake Commission visit their website here.

[Photos courtesy of Deal Lake Commission]

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