East Lake – The Lakes of Salem County

A Historical, Hydrological, and Ecological Profile of Pilesgrove’s Roadside Gem

Introduction: The Quiet Sentinel of Route 40

Nestled quietly on the border where the historic, brick-lined Borough of Woodstown gives way to the sweeping agricultural plains of Pilesgrove Township, East Lake (historically referred to as the East Lake Reservoir) stands as a peaceful, glassy gem. While thousands of South Jersey commuters catch fleeting glimpses of its glittering waters as they travel along Route 40 or make the turn onto East Lake Road, few stop to appreciate the rich ecological transition and deep colonial history preserved along its banks.

Often overshadowed by its larger, bustling downstream sister, Memorial Lake, East Lake is a more rugged, intimate, and contemplative escape. It is a place where bald eagles sweep low over soybean fields to hunt, where a historic concrete stepped spillway sings a constant song beneath the asphalt, and where the early industrial history of Woodstown remains etched into the landscape.

General Information & Vital Statistics

For quick reference, the core geographical and baseline markers for East Lake are outlined below:

Feature	Detail
Water Accessibility	Publicly accessible state-owned waters (Northern and eastern banks border private historic land)
Location	Border of Pilesgrove Township and Woodstown Borough, Salem County, New Jersey
GPS Coordinates	39°38’39.1″ N, 75°18’15.7″ W (39.6442, -75.3044)
Size	Approximately 15 acres
Elevation	66 feet above sea level
Primary Water Source	Fresh groundwater springs and agricultural headwater runoff from the Salem River system
Outflow Destination	Discharges over a concrete tiered gravity spillway into a runoff stream feeding directly into Veteran Memorial Lake
Alternative Names	East Lake Reservoir
Maps Link	East Lake on Google Maps

Visitor Information & Regulations

Access & Logistics

Navigating your arrival at East Lake requires a bit of planning, as its roadside nature shapes the visitor experience.

• Public Access Address: East Lake Road, Woodstown, NJ 08098 (located just north of Route 40/East Avenue).
• Parking Availability: There is no designated formal parking lot. However, a small lakeside pull-off area is available on East Lake Road heading away from Route 40, just past the bridge on your left. A few vehicles can park parallel to the guardrails on the lakeside of East Lake Road.
• Amenities: None. East Lake is preserved strictly as a natural roadside impoundment. There are no public restrooms, trash receptacles, picnic tables, or paved walkways.

Boating & Water Activities

• Launch Type: Unimproved, grassy bank launch suitable only for small, hand-carried, car-top watercraft like kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. The launch point is located in the small grassy clearing just north of the bridge.
• Fees: None.
• Motor Restrictions: Electric trolling motors only. Non-powered paddling is highly recommended due to the lake’s narrow layout and abundant summer weed growth.

Fishing Profile

East Lake is highly popular among local neighborhood anglers, offering an accessible pocket of warmwater recreational fishing. Catch-and-release is strongly encouraged by the local community to preserve the lake’s delicate biomass.

• Common Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel,, White Crappie, and White Perch (Morone americana).
• Bank Access: No formal piers exist. Anglers fish directly from natural clearings in the roadside brush along the East Lake Road guardrail, or descend down into the shaded spillway pool tucked beneath the bridge.
• License Requirements: A valid New Jersey State Fishing License is required for all anglers aged 16 to 69.
• Water Quality Notice: Visitors should keep an eye out for occasional Harmful Algal Bloom advisories posted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Due to nutrient runoff from surrounding agricultural operations, late summer can trigger these blooms. During an active advisory, direct water contact and fish consumption are strictly prohibited.

Geographic & Hydrological Profile

East Lake functions as a vital, shallow headwater retention basin within the upper reaches of the Salem River-Frontal Delaware River watershed.

The Tiered Spillway

Tucked directly beneath the East Lake Road bridge overpass is a beautiful, historic concrete tiered gravity spillway. This structure regulates the lake’s water level, cascading the water over concrete steps into a rocky, shaded pool below. This transition turns the still lake water into a lively, oxygenated stream that cuts through the woods toward Memorial Lake.

Depth and Ecosystem Layout

The basin is remarkably shallow, averaging only 3 to 4 feet in depth, with a soft, muddy bottom rich in organic silt.

• The West Bank: Runs immediately parallel to the paved, guardrail-lined East Lake Road, providing easy visual access but high exposure to passing traffic.
• The East & North Banks: Dominated by a dense canopy of mature deciduous hardwoods—including sweetgum, red maple, and pin oak—and thick undergrowth. This wild, undisturbed edge borders historic farmland, serving as a peaceful ecological sanctuary.

Historical Context

Colonial Roots and Naval Heroes

The history of East Lake is deeply intertwined with the early settlement of Pilesgrove and Woodstown. Just 100 yards off East Lake Drive, overlooking the eastern headwaters of the pond, sits the historic Zaccheus Dunn House. Built in 1743 by French Huguenot refugee Zaccheus Dunn, this flemish-bond brick farmhouse stands as one of Salem County’s oldest surviving structures.

Intriguingly, between 1803 and 1810, this property served as the residence of Stephen Decatur Sr., a celebrated American naval officer who captured French privateers during the Quasi-War of 1798 and father of the legendary War of 1812 hero Stephen Decatur Jr. The pond itself was originally dammed during this early colonial era to secure water rights, manage agricultural irrigation, and power local mills.

Industrial Ice and Agricultural Floods

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, East Lake served as a valuable local resource for ice harvesting. During cold winters, local workers cut massive blocks of ice from the lake, packing them in sawdust and storing them in nearby icehouses to keep Woodstown’s dairy products and meats cold throughout the humid summer months.

In the mid-to-late 20th century, the old earthen dam works were reinforced, and the modern concrete bridge and stepped drop-spillway were constructed to stabilize East Lake Road.

As a headwater impoundment, East Lake plays a vital role in regional flood control. During major hurricanes—including Hurricane Floyd (1999) and Hurricane Irene (2011)—massive volumes of agricultural stormwater runoff from Pilesgrove’s farms funneled through East Lake. The stepped spillway design successfully dissipates the water’s energy, protecting Woodstown’s downstream municipal gates at Memorial Lake from catastrophic failure.

Wildlife & Nature

Birdwatching Opportunities

Because of its unique positioning between open farm fields and dense forest, East Lake attracts a stunning array of predatory and wading birds:

• Bald Eagles: A local Pilesgrove nesting pair frequently patrols the lake, swooping low over the glassy water to snatch fish from the shallows.
• Ospreys: Active from spring through late summer, these “fish hawks” can be seen diving near the center of the lake.
• Great Blue Herons: These giant waders utilize the quiet, shallow northern coves to hunt for frogs and small fish in the reeds.
• Red-winged Blackbirds: Their distinctive “o-ka-leeee” calls ring out constantly from the cattails lining the western guardrails.

Other Wildlife & Seasonal Transitions

On warm, sunny afternoons, dozens of Eastern Painted Turtles can be seen crowding onto half-submerged logs along the eastern tree line. The damp, silty banks of the runoff stream beneath the bridge act as a canvas of animal tracks, revealing the nightly activities of white-tailed deer, raccoons, possums, and other nocturnal creatures.

• Spring: Bright green briars, wild garlic, and sweet pepperbush bloom along the roadside bank, while migratory warblers arrive in the hardwood canopy.
• Summer: A thick canopy of green shades the eastern bank, while duckweed and water lilies spread across the lake’s quietest coves.
• Fall: The oaks and maples of the eastern forest turn brilliant shades of copper, amber, and gold, reflecting beautifully on the still lake surface during crisp autumn sunsets.
• Winter: The shallow waters freeze quickly, offering great opportunities for tracking animal footprints across the snow-dusted ice and muddy creek beds.

Additional Notes & Pro-Tips for Visitors

Time Your Paddle: To enjoy the water without navigating thick vegetation or potential summer algae blooms, plan your kayak trips for late May or early October when the water is cooler and the surface is clear.

Safety First: Because the launch area and bank fishing spots sit right along East Lake Road, park as tightly to the grass line as possible. Extreme caution must be exercised when parking, loading gear, and exiting vehicles due to fast-moving local traffic on East Lake Road. Keep a close eye on children and pets.

Wade the Spillway: If you want to fish or explore the rocky stream flowing toward Memorial Lake, a pair of rugged, high-topped rubber muck boots is highly recommended. The mud beneath the bridge is deep and clay-rich, and the rocks near the cascade can be exceptionally slick.