Manasquan Reservoir, Monmouth County NJ

[SeaMe]

Can any Jerseyans confirm that SUP is allowed on the Manasquan Reservoir in Monmouth County?

According to their webpage:

Park features:
•1204 acres of land and water
•fishing
•5-mile perimeter trail
•1-mile nature trail
•playground
•ice-skating
•kayak and rowboat rentals

SUP is clearly not on that list but it is listed in the park systems online activity catalog: http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/program1/searchdetails.aspx?ID=21340

I'm going to call the visitor's center tomorrow but I thought I might get an answer quicker if I asked here first.

[feet]

So I wouldn't call.  I'd go paddle with a PFD and leash, so as not to attract unwanted attention, and I'd act like I belonged there.

If they allow kayaks and canoes greater than 8 ft. in length, then you should be allowed to SUP there. 

However, I found this: 7. No person shall swim, wade, scuba dive, snorkel, use a sail board, or paddle board, or
use any other water flotation device (other than a personal floatation device for its intended
use).

at this site: http://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/132/regs_man_res.pdf

I say that I wouldn't call because a. if kayaks and canoes are allowed, SUPs should be allowed.  and b. some overzealous park employee with limited understanding of SUP will probably see "paddle board" and tell you that you aren't allowed.

Those rules were adopted in 2001, so their concept of "paddle board" is probably not the kind of SUP you will use. 

That's my thinking.  Let me know what happens.

[suprbowl]

That last description is exactly what I found at a local state park over here in Westchester County, NY. I had just bought my first board and was madly searching for any public access water. I went to the office first, there was a younger person working. She didn't know what a sup was, so gave me that same list. She said the main issue is human contact with water. For some reason, to them, boards=human contact (falling in?) vs. a kayak etc. I didn't pursue it. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission or play it safe and don't go.

[feet]

Paddle board probably refers to prone and not stand up.

[JimK]

Resevoirs for water supply purposes usually are not inclined to allow SUP Tominimize human contact with water and also to limit water use to minimize contamination

Ok at least that is what I've been told here in PA

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[SeaMe]

I don't have my board yet (if you like you can join my other thread on that subject ) so this was a preliminary fact finding mission for me, and I can't say I'm happy with what I learned.  

The ranger I spoke with knew exactly what I meant when I said SUP and informed me that it is absolutely not allowed on the reservoir. I pointed out that the online catalog makes mention of SUP classes, which he confirmed are held at the reservoir, but the classes notwithstanding, individuals are not allowed to SUP at Manasquan. When I asked what parks in the system allow SUP he said, "none."  

The ranger was very nice and I got the impression that he also felt it was silly to offer classes but then forbid the public from doing the same, though for all I know he might think that no one should be SUPing on the reservoir for the reasons Jim K. pointed out above. However, the ranger knew exactly what SUP is, so maybe it's something the parks system is currently discussing internally.

My feeling about human contact with water in the reservoir is that I doubt bare skin hitting the water would do any more damage than the deer, fowl and host of other critters crapping into are doing. The park system can't be that concerned about human contamination since fishermen and kayakers—who fall in from time to time—are allowed.

Back to the drawing board

[sup_surf_giant]

I don't have my board yet (if you like you can join my other thread on that subject ) so this was a preliminary fact finding mission for me, and I can't say I'm happy with what I learned.  

The ranger I spoke with knew exactly what I meant when I said SUP and informed me that it is absolutely not allowed on the reservoir. I pointed out that the online catalog makes mention of a SUP class, which he confirmed are held at the reservoir, but the classes notwithstanding, individuals are not allowed to SUP at Manasquan. When I asked what parks in the system allow SUP he said, "none."  

The ranger was very nice and I got the impression that he also felt it was silly to offer classes but then forbid the public from doing the same, though for all I know he might think that no one should be SUPing on the reservoir for the reasons Jim K. pointed out above. However, the ranger knew exactly what SUP is, so maybe it's something the parks system is currently discussing internally.

My feeling about human contact with water in the reservoir is that I doubt bare skin hitting the water would do any more damage than the deer, fowl and host of other critters crapping into are doing. The park system can't be that concerned about human contamination since fishermen and kayakers—who fall in from time to time—are allowed.

Back to the drawing board

This is mind boggling how these rules are generated.

[feet]

Oh, the Jersey BS never surprises me...

If I were you I'd skip the reservoir and paddle the sedge islands behind IBSP or the Metedeconk River if you want flat water. If you really want to paddle a drinking water supply reservoir, check out Round Valley near Clinton.



Sorry those folks at 'squan have cranial rectal inversion.

[newton333]

3 miles from my house and no u can not go there!  place is a waste anyway and  a lot of hassle.. come over to the shark river.   bigger cleaner and no hassle at all  ! u can go to belmar side which has a really nice cove and beach surrounded by docks by the boat ramp fully protected from wind. great for learning. or neptune city side with a huge beach and ample parking  or shark river side that has tons of little beaches right by the road side where u can literally park your car and put board in 2 steps  away! when u get your board come down and drive around check it out.

[bluecoast]

Monmouth County holds a race at the Res called the Timberbrook Tri which is a run/bike/paddle with a canoe or kayak. Last year for the first time they included a SUP class. There were about 6 of us that raced. Afterwards I was talking to the guy (Brian from Aloha Guides) who holds that class there. He basically said the same thing...the county/town/state/whatever thinks Stand Up Paddlers would be falling off and swimming, therefore no SUPs at the Res...

As of last Oct Brian was saying it was something he was working on getting reversed, I'm not sure where it stands now, if you were really that interested I'm sure you could contact him from his site/facebook page.

[SeaMe]

Necro'ing another one...

Does anyone know if the official stance for 2014 is still "NO SUP"?

[MtnSUPSKI]

Blows my mind! I know of no public waters in colorado that I am not allowed to swim or paddle board on/in unless it's private property. There are sections, like swim area on lakes that are closed to water craft but that's all.

[robon]

Blows my mind! I know of no public waters in colorado that I am not allowed to swim or paddle board on/in unless it's private property. There are sections, like swim area on lakes that are closed to water craft but that's all.

It's totally ridiculous and the same regulations are at play in Canada. Well, at least in my experience. The biggest body of water within city limits in Calgary, Alberta is the Glenmore reservoir and it's off limits to SUPs for the same reasons described above. Human contact with water is bad because it's Calgary's drinking water supply. Now for the stupidity portion of our program. Canoes, kayaks, dragon boats, and sail boats are allowed, but no SUPs. There is even a big-ass, motorized paddlewheeler from Heritage Park that is allowed, and I'm sure a small amount of oil and other contaminants leak from it, but SUPs are forbidden. The kicker is that on a hot summer day dozens of people and their dogs swim in the river directly feeding the reservoir, but as long as you don't swim right in the reservoir, things are good. Not to mention the thousands of birds, especially ducks, and geese that shit and piss in the reservoir, along with hundreds of deer, moose, and even a few black bears that frequent the area.

Meh.

[Bean]

Here are the current rules at the reservoir.

http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2531
http://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/132/regs_man_res.pdf

Same rules in effect since Feb 20, 2001:

7. No person shall swim, wade, scuba dive, snorkel, use a sail board, or paddle board, or use any other water flotation device (other than a personal floatation device for its intended use).

Clearly the term paddleboard does not specifically include SUP, as the rule predates our sport.  So, it becomes a matter of interpretation for the Rangers.

But like Newt said last year, there are better places to paddle in the area.

[MtnSUPSKI]

Blows my mind! I know of no public waters in colorado that I am not allowed to swim or paddle board on/in unless it's private property. There are sections, like swim area on lakes that are closed to water craft but that's all.

It's totally ridiculous and the same regulations are at play in Canada. Well, at least in my experience. The biggest body of water within city limits in Calgary, Alberta is the Glenmore reservoir and it's off limits to SUPs for the same reasons described above. Human contact with water is bad because it's Calgary's drinking water supply. Now for the stupidity portion of our program. Canoes, kayaks, dragon boats, and sail boats are allowed, but no SUPs. There is even a big-ass, motorized paddlewheeler from Heritage Park that is allowed, and I'm sure a small amount of oil and other contaminants leak from it, but SUPs are forbidden. The kicker is that on a hot summer day dozens of people and their dogs swim in the river directly feeding the reservoir, but as long as you don't swim right in the reservoir, things are good. Not to mention the thousands of birds, especially ducks, and geese that shit and piss in the reservoir, along with hundreds of deer, moose, and even a few black bears that frequent the area.

Meh.

So peeing off SUP into said reservoir is a big NO NO! Sometimes you have to go!

Everyone pees in water, and if you say you don't, you are LYING!!!