Commission proposed to protect Lake Takanassee

Commission proposed to protect Lake Takanassee
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — Seeing the success of the Deal Lake Commission, Long Branch Councilman and mayoral candidate Brian Unger hopes to form a Takanassee Lake commission.

Unger, who has long sought the protection of the three buildings on the Takanassee Beach Club property, held a press conference at the lake located on Ocean Avenue on April 6.

During the press conference Unger suggested that neighboring towns West Long Branch and Ocean Township join with Long Branch to create such a commission.

“I am calling for the creation of a regional Takanassee Lake commission,” he said. “We have to have participation of the other towns.

“The lake goes right into West Long Branch and the tributaries flow right into Ocean Township,” he added. “Having a commission would help preserve this entire area.”

Unger said that the commission would lobby for the lake’s protection on the local and state level.

“An advisory commission would be able to influence local planning boards and town governments, as well as the state DEP [Department of Environmental Protection],” he said. “We need to actually propose legislation and actually lobby towns.”

Unger gave an overview of some of the problems in the lake.

“We have [had] some opportunistic vegetation come in, which makes it difficult [for] the wildlife,” he said.

He also expressed concerns about chemicals like antifreeze and fertilizers getting into the lake.

Unger cited the success of the Deal Lake Commission in securing state and federal money for the lake’s protection.

“They get federal dollars and they get state dollars, and they take care of the lake,” he said. “Why can’t we do the same? Now we need legislation, we need action.”

Last year Long Branch reinstituted the Environmental Commission, but Unger said the lake project would be more far-reaching in scope.

“This is a big job in itself that requires a single focus because [commission members] are going to have to coordinate with other towns and the state as well,” he said.

Also appearing with Unger was council candidate Joe Mauriello, who was concerned about children playing in the lake.

“I see little kids fishing in the water,” he said. “You know what little kids do — they put their hands in their mouth and rub their eyes.

“It’s not the best water in the world. I can tell you right now, if I caught a fish in there, I wouldn’t eat it,” he added. “I’m concerned about the young … kids who play in the water.”

Beth Woolley, a local historian and trustee for the Long Branch Historical Society, said she contacted local and state officials years ago about the lake.

“I contacted the county and the state about the runoff into this lake,” she said.

“This was once our town’s drinking water,” she added.

Woolley said that during storms the problems pile up.

“In storms, boards have to be pulled out of there, so the water can flow into the ocean,” she said. “Otherwise, it backs up and this whole area floods.

“Nobody is maintaining this lake; it’s a nightmare.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com





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