The Manasquan Reservoir was designed in 1985 and built between 1987 and 1989. It provides water for local municipalities and utilites. With a 4 billion-gallon high water capacity the reservoir can supply up to 30 million gallons of water a day. The reservoir was formed by constructing a main dam and a dike across Timber Swamp Brook. Water from the Manasquan River is pumped up to the reservoir that keeps the reservoir filled.
During the construction of the reservoir, The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife help design a premiere angling site and wildlife refuge. Standing timber was left along the edges of the reservoir., Pea-sized gravel was spread along the northern shore to provide spawning areas, stump fields were left on the bottom, and cabled trees were anchored to provide structure for a variety of fish. As the reservoir filled the Division stocked largemouth and smallmouth bass, alewife and channel catfish.
In 1990, the reservoir became operational and the Monmouth County Parks System entered a 99 year lease with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority to operate a premier recreational facility. By 1994 the parks department opened the Visitor Center and boathouse. Several years later the Environmental Center opened. Today the park provides a perimeter multi use trail, a nature trail, boating, fishing and education.
A portion of the reservoir's property is designated as a wildlife reserve which protects aquatic fauna wetland and woodland trees and plants, small mammals, turtles, snakes, frogs and over 200 bird species, including ospreys and bald eagles. The Manasquan Reservoir provides excellent opportunities to view species in their natural habitats.
The cache is located at:
N40 10.BDF W74.13.GAK
A= How many miles is the perimeter trail
BCD= Total acreage of the reservoir
EFGH= What year did the Environmental Center Open
JKLM= Total acreage of the park, including woods, wetlands and water
All digits in the North coordinate will = 12.
All the digits on the West will = 22
All answers can be found on the brochure found at the Environmental Center. The Environmental Center is open daily from 10am-4:30pm. Answers maybe found elsewhere, but they may be slightly different then the answers found at the Environmental Center. All effort have been made to eliminate any ambiguity.
This cache is certified Central Jersey!
