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On the heels of the Asbury Park City Council’s vote to approve the Wesley Lake Commission charter agreement with Neptune, two support groups – The Friends of Wesley Lake and The Citizens of Wesley Lake – are joining forces to support needed initiatives.

Wesley Lake, which runs between Ocean Grove and Asbury Park’s south end, is governed by the nine-member Wesley Lake Commission [WLC]. The Commission is tasked with overseeing the lake’s water quality, flow, maintenance, and restoration.

Among the immediate issues is whether or not to move forward with an annual herbicide weed treatment or opt to harvest the weed.

The estimated cost for the 2016 weed treatment from Hunterdon County-based Princeton Hydro came in at $10,250, according the WLC October 20 meeting minutes. The cost covers four treatments occurring every 3 to 4 weeks beginning in mid-May. Conversely, the cost of using a harvester to remove the pond weed was estimated between $13,000 to $15,000, not including the cost of a crane, dewatering and disposal of the pond weed.

Asbury Park City Councilman Joe Woerner, who sits on the Commission, said he’s glad the Commission is considering something other than the herbicide treatment.

“The city of Asbury Park didn’t support the use of the herbicide this summer,” Woerner said. “The weed is not an invasive species, it is actually a native species.”

Woerner said there are other ways of treating the nuisance growth, like harvesting or the use of Grass Carp.

“The [herbicide] is still a spray pesticide that would flow into the ocean,” Woerner said. “You can’t use the water for two days after the treatment.”

The WLC is also discussing needed repairs to the lake’s outflow pipe and retaining wall. Costs to repair the western end of the retaining wall came in at $18,900. The cost would cover excavation along the shoreline, installation of marine grade plywood and backfilling.

Woerner said both municipalities appropriate $1,000 annually to the Commission and share in ongoing project costs.

But often, it is the support groups – The Citizens of Wesley Lake and The Friends of Wesley Lake – that come to the Commission financial rescue. This summer the Friends of Wesley Lake helped fund the spray herbicide treatment, Woerner said.

“They are both very active groups,” Woerner said. “Their volunteers who come to our meeting really do help to keep the Commission on task.”

The two support groups will host a Happy Hour Fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov 10 at the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten on Lake Avenue. They have also launched a GoFundMe page, where organizers say:

“We have immediate needs for annual pond weed treatment & harvesting as well as repairs to our outflow pipe and retaining walls,” the site reads. “The money will also help to fund equipment for clean ups and beautification advancements- such as our aerators.

“Together we have made great strides and your partnership in the cleanups has proven invaluable!
We need to do more and with your generous donations we can begin to restore the quality of the water and the grounds making Wesley Lake a great place to gather and enjoy for future generations.”

There is a planned merger between the two support groups, WLC Commissioner Patricia ‘Tee’ Lesinski said.

“The environment is one of the top two features of why an economy grows,” Lesinski said. “If we do things jointly, as part of a larger team, and larger scope we could get more attention and get more done.”

Lesinski, a 30-year city resident, said the lake is surrounded by Brownfield sites and coupled with failed development requirements to help protect the waterway has left a host of issues like the need for stormceptors.

“We keep on looking for grants so the two cities can apply for them, especially with the flooding [shown at right], it’s imperative we try to get in line for the next round of funding,” Lesinski said. “It looks like a small lake but it’s hard because there is so much to do and the cost is so much higher now.”

She said no one should feel obligated to donate during the Nov. 10 event.

“It’s an event to meet other concerned people and to learn about the lake,” Lesinski said. “No one should feel obligated to contribute. Anything that is raised will be put toward an obtainable goal.”

The WLC meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Midtown Community School, 1155 Corlies Avenue in Neptune. For more information, call (732) 988-5200.

For more information about the Wesley Lake support groups’ initiatives, visit their Facebook page or the GoFundMe site.

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