County Project Improves Lake Lenape Fishing

(Press Release)
Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson has announced another effort by the county to enhance recreational fishing at Lake Lenape. The current project involves sinking more than 300 cut Christmas trees in strategic locations along the lake bed to provide cover for target species of game fish as well as the abundance of bait fish in the Lenape fishery. Locations were selected by state biologists based on depth, water flow and oxygen content.The project, a cooperative venture of the Atlantic County Park System, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and several volunteer organizations, will improve fishing at Lake Lenape for local favorites such as largemouth bass, chain pickerel, crappie and yellow perch.Approximately two years ago, the county opened a fish ladder at Lake Lenape Dam that allows migratory fish, including native herring and shad, access into the lake and the headwaters of the Great Egg Harbor River with 15 miles of spawning and foraging habitat. The Great Egg Harbor River is a designated National Wild and Scenic River, only the second river in the state to receive this distinction."Not only do these projects benefit recreational fishing, but they also serve to enhance the ecosystem and encourage the interest of osprey, bald eagles and the great blue heron," stated Levinson. "We will continue to protect these valuable resources for the pleasure of our residents and visitors."For more information on Lake Lenape and the Atlantic County Parks System, visit www.aclink.org/parks or call (609) 625-8219.

Attention Lake Lenape Home Owners

There will be a meeting on Thursday Jan. 17 7:30 PM at the Inn at Sugar Hill. Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson is in the process of establishing the Lake Lenape Park Committee to define short and long term uses for the park. As part of that committee the executive would like to appoint a representative from the Lake Lenape Homeowners Association. Since we currently do not have defined officers I have volunteered to temporarily take that position until we can formally meet to identify a representative.

In an effort to keep the process moving I have taken the liberty to schedule a meeting at the Inn at Sugar Hill to discuss the goals and objectives of the committee and to select a representative who will attend the committee meetings and keep other homeowners and stake holders apprised of developments. I invite all Lake Lenape homeowners to attend and to participate in the process.

Come, be a part of the future of Lenape Park.

Teresa Thomas
933 Morningside Drive
625-8623
tmt933@yahoo.com

PS Don’t forget to patronize the Inn at Sugar Hill for their hospitality.

Lenape Slalom Team Escapes The Cold

Just after Thanksgiving the Lenape Slalom Team ventured via Winnebago to Orlando Florida to escape the northern cold. Befriended Pro Waterskier Wade Cox played host for a week of 85 degree sunshine and smooth glassy turns. The pictures speak for themselves.

Lenape Lake to be lowered on November 20

The letter below was distrubuted by the Townships Public Works Director.

October 29, 2007

To: All Lake Lenape Lakefront Residents

Lenape Lake will be lowered on November 20, 2007 to allow lakefront residents to perform maintenance and clean-up activities.
Due to the fish-spawning season, the lake will be raised to the normal elevation on February 28, 2008.
If there are questions or concerns in this matter, please call the Public Works office, 625-6311 Ext. 495.

Thank You,
William L. Montag IV
Director of Public Works

County closes on deal for 17.5-acre Lake Lenape Park

Click here to read....

To see forward sometimes you need to look back

How Walter Hoagland Ran The Dam

The piece below was submitted by Betty Gale. In it she reflects on the tried and true method her Granddad, Walter Hoagland implemented when operating the Lake Lenape dam gates during an estimated timeframe of 1930-1952. He tended the dam until the Wheaton family bought the Cotton Mill and the site became Wheaton Plastics Co. Walter retired from Wheaton's after suffering a stroke at the Cotton Mill during the March 1962 nor'easter which ravaged the East Coast. Thanks goes to Aline Dix for getting this piece and clarifying the information.

All the years that Granddad (Walter Hoagland) took care of the dam nothing like this flooding ever happened. He used to drive to Weymouth and measure the depth of the water with a stick he had in the water, then there was some kind of meter on a board near the river that measured how fast the water was moving. Also a temperature gauge was there. It looked an electric meter looks today. Knowing Granddad (Walter Hoagland) it may have been an old one that he converted. Then we would drive back home (on Lenape Ave.) and he would sit in the back shed on his stool with a big old cigar and he would have figures, very neatly done, on papers. Then he would yell to Mema.... (His wife Jane Hoagland) "Janie, I am going to the mill". He would then open or close the gates for the dam according to his figures. Many times I was with him either in Weymouth or at the mill or sometimes both. We never had a flood and most of the time the lake never varied in height unless it was a really dry summer or in the early spring when he let it down so the lakeshores could be cleaned!!

Lots of good memories from this little bit!!
Thanks...Betty Gale, Granddaughter

Fire Strikes Historic Wheatons Factory

Below are images captured by Rick Gorbig from the shore of Lake Lenape and from a boat in the lake along with others from various local news outlets.


Video from local news channels.
NBC 40 (Atlantic City)

CBS 3 (Philadelphia)


CBS 3 Chopper (Philadelphia)


Chopper 6 ABC(Philadelphia)