Cedar Creek (Delaware Bay) facts for kids

Cedar Creek is a stream and estuary (which is where a river meets the sea) in Cumberland County, New Jersey, in the United States. It stretches about 10.5-mile-long (16.9 km), eventually flowing into Delaware Bay.

This creek begins in Lawrence Township. As it flows, it passes through a place called Lummistown. Here, the creek is blocked twice by dams, creating two lakes known as the Lummis Lakes. Further along, at Cedarville, another dam forms Cedar Lake. After Cedar Lake, the creek flows into wide, wet areas called marshes. In these marshes, the water becomes "tidal," meaning its level goes up and down with the ocean's tides.

Long ago, a waterway called Fresh Creek used to connect Cedar Creek to Middle Brook. This connection helped to separate an area known as Jones Island. Today, much of Fresh Creek has turned into marshland.

As Cedar Creek continues its journey through the marshlands, other smaller streams join it. These include Bowers Creek and Howells Creek. Finally, Cedar Creek empties into Nantuxent Cove, which is part of the larger Delaware Bay.

What Are Cedar Creek's Tributaries?

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Think of them as branches joining a main tree trunk. Cedar Creek has a few important tributaries that add water to its flow:

• Howells Creek
• Bowers Creek
• Fresh Creek