Come walk along the path, sit on the bench, take in the beauty of the flowers, butterflies, blue herons and osprey.

On a sweltering morning, even at 9 am Troop 148 scouts helped pull the Monmouth University jon boat across Ross Lake. It was loaded with clippers, weed whackers and rakes.  Scout Master Levester Bromley set up a sun shelter and brought a cooler filled with goodies for our return.

After the third trip, with Chuck at the helm, we were all on the island. The scouts found a hornet’s nest in a tree and also a skull. They thought it might have been an opossum.

We opened up a view so that people sitting on the new park bench shelter could clearly see the 117- year- old stone hut. We also wanted to pull off all the vines from the hut’s walls in preparation for the stone masonry work scheduled for this month.

The on-going  beautification of Ross Lake Park has been a joint effort between the Long Branch Environmental Commission, the Whale Pond Brook Watershed Association, the Monmouth County Historical Commission, Monmouth University and the Jersey Shore Group of the Sierra Club since 2014.   Come visit the park and see for yourself.  Sit on the bench and watch the osprey, the great blue heron and the butterflies.

19 Elinore Ave   Long Branch 07740

People enjoying the new shelter at Ross Island Park in Long Branch.A glimpse of the Whale Pond Brook in Ocean Township along the Cindy Lane Trail.

Wishing you peace and love, a joyous holiday season and a happy winter solstice.

From all of us at the Whale Pond Brook Watershed Association

Our new Watershed Ambassador, Amber Mallm, organized a great event today. Thanks to all the fantastic volunteers who helped clean up the ditch between Cindy Lane and Collins Ave in Ocean Township. This ditch funnels storm water into a small pipe that takes it under Rt 35,  into a ninety degree turn,  behind the new senior center and  into Weltz Park. It was totally dry today and there was lots of garbage, mostly beer cans and bottles. Thanks to the Long Branch Interact/Environmental Club for making this day a success. Your enthusiasm and energy are amazing. We hope to see you again on other projects.

We had a glorious day for cleaning the Takanassee Lake Trestle section of the Whale Pond Brook greenway.  About 20 University students helped as well as the Boy Scouts from Long Branch Troop 148.  Thanks to Monmouth County 
Clean Communities for helping us with supplies.

After several days of hard work weeding, Chuck finally finished the trail. The new push pull hoe was a wonder.  
Meanwhile the caterpillars are enjoying the milkweed in the butterfly garden.

And the hydrangea is looking very happy.

Other volunteers worked on clearing invasives from the banks to provide a clear view to the stone hut from the shelter.

                JOIN US WEDS AUG 24   9:30 AM     BRING A RAKE OR      SHOVEL TO HELP SPREAD THE WOOD CHIPS 

LONG BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY

 ELBERON HISTORIC TOUR  (includes Ross Island Park)

AUG 27   12 – 5 PM   

Today 6 families left the LB Community Garden with rain barrels that they built from plastic 32 gallon trash cans. Chuck demonstrated the method on a barrel to be used in the garden and then, ably aided by Long Branch Troop 148 scouts, people built their own rain barrels. It was a fun and productive 2 hours. Thanks to Long Branch Concordance for donating the trash cans, Chuck Ficca for donating the hardware and expertise, Levester Burnley for bringing the Scouts, Troy Todman and her daughter for videotaping and general good will.

These stones, on the west side of the garden,  slow the water flow down and keep try to keep  it from going out into the parking lot if the rain garden overflows.