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The Friends of Deal Lake [FoDL] has moved its ‘Save Deal Lake’ campaign to the public’s fingertips.

Through a partnership with the report it® App anyone with a smartphone or tablet can immediately report any threat to the County’s largest water body, which covers 27 miles of shoreline, FoDL’s Jerry Maurer said.

“Deal Lake is a very important natural resource not only for Ocean Township, but other surrounding communities,” Mayor Christopher Siciliano said in a written statement. “I support the efforts of the Friends of Deal Lake in protecting the lake and believe Report It will be an important tool that can empower local residents to help protect it”

The report it® App is an interactive platform for consumer engagement and community involvement.

“Everyone can assist as the eyes and ears to protect and improve Deal Lake,” Maurer said. “The App makes it very easy to notify the FoDL about anything that threatens the lake and you choose whether to remain anonymous or you can provide your contact information.”

The report it® App also will be used as a platform to share information, comments, and suggestions, Maurer said. FoDL will follow up, as appropriate, on all reports.

In a written statement of support Monmouth County Freeholders Tom Arnone and John Curley said: “Deal Lake and the surrounding watershed is an important natural resource that benefits all residents and visitors to Monmouth County. Ensuring the vitality and sustainability of Deal Lake is the responsibility of all of us and Report It is the idea tool to support that effort”

The Deal Lake watershed encompasses over 4,500 acres, Maurer said in a written statement.  In addition to the oils, gasoline, antifreeze, and trash, which are washed into the lake from the vast areas of heavily utilized roads and parking lots, there are continually other acts which also pollute and contaminate Deal Lake – such as soil from construction sites that is not contained, dumping of leaves, brush, and trash into the lake as well as recent events such as sewer line breaches and construction equipment leaking fluids.

“With all these challenges that negatively impact Deal Lake’s ability to support recreation and marine life, prevent flooding, and protect home values, the lake needs to be saved – prior testing has confirmed the lake is polluted and a public agency is reporting the lake is losing over one acre of surface water per year,” Maurer said.

A reminder:  motor boat issues such as violating the no-wake zone regulations, should be reported directly to local police departments – Asbury Park, Deal, and Ocean Township, Maurer said.

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