Increased Funding for Deal Lake Restoration Urged
By DON STINE
Loch Arbour officials have decided to remain in the Deal Lake Commission, a decision that has been welcomed by those interested in restoring the lake.
That would be short-sighted and foolish (to leave the commission) said resident John Zazzarino.
Zazzarino said the seven municipalities comprising the Deal Lake Commission need to increase their level of support if anything effective is to be accomplished.
Zazzarino said funding the commission is particularly important now that a stormwater management plan has been completed and submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection for project funding.
This is an important crescendo in the work the commission has done over the last few years, he said.
Zazzarino said the commission is on the verge of qualifying for Section 319c funding from the state now that it has completed and passed its regional storm water plan.
The state funding will dwarf the local funding the commission has received. To drop out now would be penny wise and dollar foolish, he said.
Section 319c funding is state funding that can be used specifically for stormwater-related projects, such as improvements to banks along the lake.
Loch Arbour Village Clerk Lorraine Carafa said that at a Feb. 25 workshop meeting the villages Board of Trustees voted to remain in the Deal Lake Commission and make its annual financial contribution.
The trustees just hope the commission also addresses some of their concerns and not put all the emphasis on the upland areas around the lake, although we understand there are major problems there, she said.
Carafa said the trustees are particularly concerned that the flume which drains the lake into the Atlantic Ocean is properly maintained. The flume, which runs under Ocean Avenue between Asbury Park and Loch Arbour, is one of the only means to control flooding in the lake.
Carafa said the village also has a 10-year inter-local service agreement with other member towns on the Deal Lake Commission and the 10-year agreement would not be up for renewal until 2014.
Zazzarino, a member of the Friends of Deal Lake, said he feels the commission has not been adequately funded or supported by the participating towns.
Over the past 10 or 15 years they have given $25,000 a year to the commission, he said. That is very little money once you consider the scope of projects affecting the lake.
Zazzarino said he does not believe any participating community has contacted state, county or federal legislators for additional funding.
Without the support of the participating towns what will really get accomplished? The funding is needed to support these projects. The state owns the lake and it should see that it is clean, he said.
John Everson, chairman of the Deal Lake Commission, said the DEP is now reviewing the commissions storm water management plan and that any Section 319c money will not be available from the state until the plans are approved.
The money is available for stormwater related projects, such as improving stream banks or other projects, not for dredging, Everson said.
Everson said he agrees with Zazzarino that the seven municipalities comprising the Deal Lake Commission need to continue funding it.
The municipalities need to continue their support. The commission was formed in 1974 for one purpose- to have one entity address the concerns of many towns regarding the lake, he said.
Everson said Ocean Township almost doubled their funding to the commission last year- from about $10,000 to $19,000- but he added that Asbury Park has yet to pay last years contribution.
The annual contribution is based on the amount of frontage the municipality has on the lake.
Everson said the commission recently spent about $3,000 on emergency repairs to the flume and that it is seeking more money for future repairs.
Both flood gates of the flume had serious problems and if we did not pay to fix the flume then Loch Arbour would have had to pay for it, he said.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
