Deal Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deal Lake |
|
---|---|
Location | Monmouth County, New Jersey |
Coordinates | 40°13′54″N 74°00′26″W / 40.23156°N 74.00729°W |
Primary inflows | Harvey Brook, Hallow Brook, Storm Water run-off |
Primary outflows | Atlantic Ocean |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 158 acres (0.64 km2) |
Average depth | 5 to 6 feet (1.8 m) |
Surface elevation | 3.2 ft (0.98 m) (Lower Main Section) 8 to 9 ft (Upper Sections) |
Deal Lake is a large, man-made lake located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is the biggest lake in the county. It is also one of the largest lakes in all of New Jersey. The lake covers about 158 acres. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Seven different towns are located along the lake's edge. These towns include Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township. Together, they make up about 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline.
Like many lakes near cities, Deal Lake faced water quality problems in the mid-1900s. To help fix these issues, the Deal Lake Commission was created in 1974. This group works to protect and improve the lake.
Deal Lake is a freshwater lake. But it has a special feature: saltwater fish come here to lay their eggs! These fish include alewives, blueback herring, and gizzard shad.
Exploring Deal Lake's Past
Deal Lake has had many different names over time. Some of its old names include Lake Uliquecks, White's Pond, Hogs Swamp Pond, Corlies Pond, Great Pond, and Boyleston Great Pond.
How Deal Lake Was Formed
Originally, Deal Lake was a natural estuary. An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea. It was connected to the Atlantic Ocean. But starting around 1890, people began to change it. They closed off the inlet from the ocean. They also created several separate lakes and ponds nearby.
These changes helped control floods and manage stormwater. Deal Lake became a good example of how to do this in the late 1800s. Over time, many people wanted to build homes along the lake. Today, almost the entire shoreline has buildings. Many of these homes are in areas that can flood during big storms.
Fun Times at Ross Fenton Farm
In the late 1890s, a popular entertainment spot opened. It was called the Ross Fenton Farm. This farm was located on the Wanamassa side of Deal Lake. People would go there for fun and entertainment.