This is the biggest of the lakes and ponds created by damming the Lawrence Brook. The map is centered on the northernmost launch site, which is the most central on the lake. There are two more access points to the south, which can be useful if you want to explore up the Lawrence Brook.
The Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County is 5,982 acres of fresh, brackish and saltwater estuary and islands acquired with funding from hunters and anglers, Green Acres and the sale of waterfowl stamps. The boulevard is a narrow two-lane road that was the beginning of a causeway to the shore that would have connected Great Bay to Atlantic City.
The road was never opened, but now provides access to a great sweep of salt marsh, with opportunities for fishing, birdwatching or simply enjoying the beautiful scenery. Great Bay is considered one of the least-disturbed marine wetland habitats in the northeastern United States.
This site varies, depending on when you go there. During the summer, and especially on weekends, there can be a lot of motorboats around. Other times, you can have the whole place to yourself.
Lake Carnegie is a reservoir that straddles the borders of the towns of Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro and South Brunswick in Mercer and Middlesex counties in central New Jersey. The lake was created by construction of a dam along the Millstone River, though the lower portion of the lake actually follows the valley of its largest tributary, the Stony Brook, while the Millstone River crossed under the D&R Canal to the south. The lake is about three miles long, but only about 800 feet wide.
Lake Lefferts is a man-made lake, the result of the construction in 1928 of Lake Lefferts Dam, which captures and stores the flow of Matawan Creek. This is the nicest spot in northern Monmouth County. The lake is in three parts:
The lower part that contains the dam and the launch area and extends up to the Route 34 bridge. This part is fairly deep and free of obstructions.
The upper part from Route 34 to Route 516. This part is much shallower and weedy, especially at the far end.
An unusable section beyond Route 516. This part is pretty much just mud. It may look like water, but trust me - don't go there.
This is about the smallest body of water I would consider - more of a pond than a lake. But it is a nice place. Access could not be easier, the parking lot goes right down to the water. If you live nearby, it is a good place for a quick 'dip'. To go a little farther, you can hop over the railroad tracks and get into the far section and a little ways up the byzantine creek that fills the lake.
