Celebrating 60: Manasquan Reservoir

For 30 years county and state officials felt a need to create a water storage facility for southern Monmouth County that would allow for "full utilization of its recreational potential." In 1988, that dream became reality as the county negotiated a lease agreement with the NJ Water Supply Authority for the first 1,051 acres of reservoir property in Howell Township for use as a park, thus establishing the Park System's highly popular Manasquan Reservoir. The park opened in 1990 with boating and fishing on the 770-acre reservoir and hiking and biking on the 282 surrounding acres. During its first full year of operation in 1991, the reservoir attracted over 128,000 visitors and recorded 2,000 boat launches. 

In 1994, the Visitor Center opened on the south shore with a fishing pier, a launching ramp for sailboats and boats with electric motors, and kayak and rowboat rentals. Today, this section of the reservoir also includes a wildlife-themed playground and during late spring through summer visitors can enjoy Naturalist-led pontoon boat tours to view the wildlife of the reservoir. 

The original planners of the reservoir designated a site on the west shore for environmental education. The Environmental Center opened in 2001, focusing its exhibits on wetland ecology and wildlife conservation. Great for all ages, there are hands-on exhibits, program spaces, and wildlife observation areas. The one-mile Cove Trail located next to the Environmental Center is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to take a troll see the nature of the wetlands, and the five-mile perimeter trail is the perfect scenic route for hikers, bicyclists, joggers and equestrians. 

As the largest freshwater lake in the area, the reservoir has become an important habitat for many bird species, most notably American bald eagles. An immature eagle was first noticed in 2001, and a nesting pair fledged two chicks in 2002 and in 2003, and three in 2004. Although workers cleared many acres of the former forest for the grading and flooding of the reservoir, they left trees in some areas that died following inundation, and these have provided excellent snag (dead tree) habitats for the eagles and for ospreys. They also provide microhabitats that protect fish and invertebrate water species from elements and predators.

The Manasquan Reservoir has continuously been the Park System's most visited site, with over 1.2 million visitors in 2019. Plan your trip to this beautiful site and learn more by visiting our website. 

This post comes from The Monmouth County Park System: The First Fifty Years, written by Clifford W. Zink and published and funded by the Friends of the Monmouth County Park System in 2010. Check out the book in its entirety by clicking here.