Wreck Pond
Encyclopedia
Wreck Pond is a tidal pond
located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean
in Monmouth County
, New Jersey
. It is surrounded by Wall Township
and the boroughs of Spring Lake
, Spring Lake Heights
, and Sea Girt
. The pond was originally connected to the sea by a small inlet and got its name because sailors would mistake it, in the dark, for the Manasquan Inlet
, which is further south. This was alleviated by the building of the Sea Girt Lighthouse
and stopped by the eventual filling in of the inlet.
The pond is the center of the Wreck Pond Watershed, which covers about 12 square miles (31.1 km²) in eastern Monmouth County. Its primary feeder streams are Wreck Pond Brook, Hurleys Pond Brook and Hannabrand Brook. Other bodies of water in the watershed include: Hurleys Pond, Osbornes Pond, Albert Pond and Old Mill Pond. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean through an outfall
pipe which regulates the tidal flow in and out of the pond.
The lower reaches of the pond remain an important spawning ground for anadromous
fish species including alewife
herrings.
Some of the acres of land surrounding Wreck Pond are under public ownership and are protected from development. Other lands are considered freshwater wetlands and are protected from development by federal and New Jersey laws and regulations. The watershed is part of the South Coast Subwatershed Management Region.
The pond depth has decreased substantially over several years as sediments carried by feeder creeks and increased storm water runoff have settled into it. This has also caused the pond to become choked with fecal coliform bacteria. Much water flowing into the pond from storms causes the pond to flush into the Atlantic Ocean. This, in turn, often causes the closure of ocean beaches in Sea Girt and Spring Lake.
The source of the coliform contamination is debated. A recent study conducted by Prof. John Tiedemann of Monmouth University
tracked the source of bacterial contaminents in the Wreck Pond Watershed. Tiedemann's group set up and monitored 12 stations throughout the watershed for a period of approximately two years. In this time, they determined that the major source of bacterial coliform contaminents is human waste. These contaminents may be introduced into the waterways via aging sewers, improperly capped septic systems, and illegal sewer connections. Recommendations are being prepared for distribution to municipalities throughout the watershed to assist the governing bodies in remediating problems within their jurisdictions.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
funded a partial dredging of Wreck Pond and the extension of the storm water runoff pipe about 100 yards (91.4 m) farther into the ocean. While it was hoped this would prevent pollution from affecting beaches in neighboring towns, it has been determined that the effluvium from the pipe still washes up on local beaches. Additionally, Monmouth County has mandated that after a rainfall of 1/4" or more, the beaches are automatically closed.
The Wreck Pond Watershed Preservation Association, a group of local residents, environmental activists and government officials interested in preserving Wreck Pond, meets frequently to discuss issues with preserving the area.
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It is surrounded by Wall Township
Wall Township, New Jersey
Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 26,164.Wall Township was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1851...
and the boroughs of Spring Lake
Spring Lake, New Jersey
Spring Lake is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,993....
, Spring Lake Heights
Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey
Spring Lake Heights is a borough located in the southern coastal portion of Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,713....
, and Sea Girt
Sea Girt, New Jersey
Sea Girt is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,828.Sea Girt was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 29, 1917, from portions of Wall Township, based on the results of a referendum...
. The pond was originally connected to the sea by a small inlet and got its name because sailors would mistake it, in the dark, for the Manasquan Inlet
Manasquan Inlet
The Manasquan Inlet is an inlet that connects the Atlantic Ocean withthe Manasquan River, dividing the counties of Ocean Countyand Monmouth County in the state of New Jersey....
, which is further south. This was alleviated by the building of the Sea Girt Lighthouse
Sea Girt Light
The Sea Girt Light is a lighthouse marking the inlet leading to the Wreck Pond in Sea Girt, New Jersey. It hosted the first radio beacon mounted in a shore installation in the United States.- History :...
and stopped by the eventual filling in of the inlet.
The pond is the center of the Wreck Pond Watershed, which covers about 12 square miles (31.1 km²) in eastern Monmouth County. Its primary feeder streams are Wreck Pond Brook, Hurleys Pond Brook and Hannabrand Brook. Other bodies of water in the watershed include: Hurleys Pond, Osbornes Pond, Albert Pond and Old Mill Pond. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean through an outfall
Outfall
An outfall is the discharge point of a waste stream into a body of water; alternatively it may be the outlet of a river, drain or a sewer where it discharges into the sea, a lake or the like....
pipe which regulates the tidal flow in and out of the pond.
The lower reaches of the pond remain an important spawning ground for anadromous
Fish migration
Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilometres...
fish species including alewife
Alewife
The alewife is a species of herring. There are anadromous and landlocked forms. The landlocked form is also called a sawbelly or mooneye...
herrings.
Some of the acres of land surrounding Wreck Pond are under public ownership and are protected from development. Other lands are considered freshwater wetlands and are protected from development by federal and New Jersey laws and regulations. The watershed is part of the South Coast Subwatershed Management Region.
The pond depth has decreased substantially over several years as sediments carried by feeder creeks and increased storm water runoff have settled into it. This has also caused the pond to become choked with fecal coliform bacteria. Much water flowing into the pond from storms causes the pond to flush into the Atlantic Ocean. This, in turn, often causes the closure of ocean beaches in Sea Girt and Spring Lake.
The source of the coliform contamination is debated. A recent study conducted by Prof. John Tiedemann of Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
tracked the source of bacterial contaminents in the Wreck Pond Watershed. Tiedemann's group set up and monitored 12 stations throughout the watershed for a period of approximately two years. In this time, they determined that the major source of bacterial coliform contaminents is human waste. These contaminents may be introduced into the waterways via aging sewers, improperly capped septic systems, and illegal sewer connections. Recommendations are being prepared for distribution to municipalities throughout the watershed to assist the governing bodies in remediating problems within their jurisdictions.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is a government agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and addressing issues related to pollution...
funded a partial dredging of Wreck Pond and the extension of the storm water runoff pipe about 100 yards (91.4 m) farther into the ocean. While it was hoped this would prevent pollution from affecting beaches in neighboring towns, it has been determined that the effluvium from the pipe still washes up on local beaches. Additionally, Monmouth County has mandated that after a rainfall of 1/4" or more, the beaches are automatically closed.
The Wreck Pond Watershed Preservation Association, a group of local residents, environmental activists and government officials interested in preserving Wreck Pond, meets frequently to discuss issues with preserving the area.