Cooper River (New Jersey) facts for kids
The Cooper River is a small river in southwestern New Jersey, United States. It flows into the larger Delaware River. This river is an important natural area for many towns in Camden County.
The Cooper River got its name from the Cooper family. They were among the first European settlers in the area. The river starts in Gibbsboro and flows for about 16 miles (25.7 km). It joins the Delaware River in Camden.
The river forms a natural border for several towns. These include Cherry Hill, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, and Lawnside. The area of land that drains into the Cooper River is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 40 square miles. It includes smaller streams like the North Branch and Tindale Run.
Long ago, the Cooper River was affected by ocean tides. Today, the tide no longer reaches far up the river. This is because of a structure called an impoundment near the Kaighn Avenue Bridge in Camden.
The Cooper River flows through many towns. Some of these towns are Barrington, Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and Haddonfield.
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River Lakes and Ponds
The Cooper River has several "impoundments." These are places where the river's flow is held back, creating lakes or ponds. Some of these include Cooper River Lake, Evans Pond, Hopkins Pond, Kirkwood Lake, Linden Lake, Square Circle Lake, and Wallworth Lake.
Fun Activities on the Cooper River
The Cooper River is a great place for outdoor fun and sports. Many people visit the river for different activities.
Boating and Sailing
The Camden County Boathouse is located on the Cooper River in Pennsauken Township. This boathouse is home to eight different rowing clubs. These clubs are very active from February through November.
The Cooper River Yacht Club is in Collingswood. It teaches sailing to kids and adults during the summer. The club also organizes exciting sailing races.
You can explore parts of the Cooper River by canoe. It is possible to canoe from the river's mouth up to southern Haddonfield. However, you will need to cross over some of the impoundments.
Fishing in the River
Fishing has gotten better in the Cooper River. This is thanks to special "fish ladders" that were built. These ladders help fish move past the impoundments. If you go fishing during the right season, you might catch small fish like sunnies and smallmouth bass.
Sports and Races
The Cooper River is famous for hosting major rowing competitions. It is known as a top spot for collegiate rowing in the United States.
Rowing Championships
Since 1955, the Cooper River has been the site of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association's IRA Championship Regatta. This event is considered the national championship for college rowing teams in the U.S.
The river has also hosted other important rowing events. These include the 2007 Scholastic Rowing Association of America national championships. The USRowing club national championships have also been held here.
Community Races
Beyond rowing, the trail around the Cooper River is used for community events. For example, the 9/11 Heroes Run is hosted here regularly. This race is organized by the Travis Manion Foundation.
