Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune Township and Ocean Township.

[3] Deal is a freshwater lake, but is unique because it has spawning saltwater fish, including alewives, blueback herring and gizzard shad.

Deal Lake was a model system of the late 19th century for flood control and storm water management.

Today, almost the entire shoreline has been developed with many homes built within the 100-year flood plain.

[3] In the late 1890s, the Ross Fenton Farm was established as a popular entertainment spot on the Wanamassa banks of Deal Lake.