ISSUES FACING THE LAKE

We have become increasingly alarmed about a number of  serious issues that threaten the life of this precious resource. Weed overgrowth, bank erosion, pollution, run off , fouling, silting , lack of law enforcement and apathy toward protecting this exceptional recreational and natural resource are some of the matters we are concerned about.

WEEK OF CELEBRATION & CARE FOR DEAL LAKE
The week of October 10-18, 2009,
FODL will be holding events to celebrate and help Deal Lake.
Schedule of events is below:

Saturday, October 10 - Revel on & Light up the Lake
Monay, October 12-18 -  Lake will be LOWERED
Sunday, October 18 - Lake Clean Up

For more information on the items above, please see the stories below...

Lake Lowering & Lake Clean Up Scheduled For Week of October 18, 2009
Deal Lake is schedule to be lowered from October 12-18, 2009. During this time we need your help! The next Deal Lake Clean-up is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 9am-3pm,
at the end of the Lake Lowering. The Friends of Deal Lake will be in attendance the entire time to help particpants locate areas in need of cleaning.

Folks are asked to stop by the Asbury Park boad ramp and check-in and take on an assignment- even if for an hour.

We are strongly encouraging all residents around that lake to clean up around their shore line. In an effor to help, FODL will be dropping off bags and instructions at all houses surrounding the lake over the next few weeks in preparation for the October 18, 2009.

AN ANSWER FOR WEED WOES
In an effort to help with the on-going weed issues, one of our FODL members has forwarded the following information for all members:

An aquatic weed that snags fishing lines, ensnares kayakers' paddles and jams boat propellers has become the bane of many North Jersey lake users. Eurasian milfoil, a stringy, invasive plant, grows like kudzu in Greenwood Lake, Pompton Lake and many other area lakes.
(O'Neill, The Record) Click this link for more information

BY-LAWS CHANGED
At the General Membership meeting on July 23, the FODL members who were present at the meeting voted to change the current By-Laws to reflect a new membership fee structure; a new process of approving past meeting minutes; and the meeting schedule for general membership meetings to four times a year (September, January, April and June). 
Amended By laws FriendsOf Deal Lake PDF

DLC Lake Lowering Criteria
On July 24, 2009, our FODL president, received an email from the John Everson, the DLC Commissioner explaing the criteria for lowering the lake during a coastal storm. Everson wrote, "We (the DLC) hold a lake lowering permit from the NJ DEP that allows us to lower the lake in anticipation of a major rain event to help prevent flooding.  The determination is made when the National Weather Service issues a warning that more than an 1” of rain will fall over any given 24 hour period. Currently, the Commission’s Clerk monitors the weather reports along with several members of the Commission.  It’s customary for two or more of us (the DLC members) to communicate and affirm the decision to open the flume.  We (the DLC) also take into account the tides and the height of the tides when making the decision to open the flume.  During storms and lunar high tides the flume must be opened about 3 hours before the low tide and then closed 3 hours after low tide otherwise the ocean comes into the lake at a faster rate during peak high tide.  At a recent DLC meeting, the Commissioners agreed that when we (the DLC) open the flume we (the DLC) will notify key members of the FODL and various lakefront residents that the flume is open and the approximate time it will be closed." FODL would like to thank Commissioner Everson for providing our members with this information. For more information on the DLC, please visit: http://www.deallake.org

Contact us: info@friendsofdeallake.com
Deal Lake Regatta by Doug Forbes
Gardening Information Links