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Maurice River
Maurice River Millville.jpg
The Maurice River in Millville
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Location of the mouth in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Country United States
State New Jersey
Counties Salem and Cumberland
Cities Vineland, Millville
Physical characteristics
Main source Pittsgrove Township
River mouth Delaware Bay
Length 50 mi (80 km)approx.
Basin features
Basin size 386 sq mi (1,000 km2)approx.
Tributaries
  • Left:
    Burnt Mill Branch, Blackwater Branch, Little Robin Branch, Parvin Branch, Manantico Creek, Manumuskin River, Muskee Creek, Little Mill Creek
  • Right:
    Green Branch, Muddy Run, Mill Creek, White Marsh Run, Buckshutem Creek, Steep Run, Peterson Run, Sheppards Branch
Type: Scenic, Recreational
Designated: December 1, 1993

The Maurice River is a cool river in New Jersey, United States. It flows into Delaware Bay. This river is named after a prince named Maurice, Prince of Orange.

About the Maurice River

The Maurice River is pronounced "Morris." It is about 50 miles (80 km) long. It covers a large area of land, about 386 square miles (1,000 km2). This makes it the second longest and second largest river that flows into Delaware Bay.

The land around the river is called its watershed. This area includes a big part of the Pine Barrens. These are special coastal forests and wetlands. Where the river meets Delaware Bay, there are many salt marshes. This area was once very important for finding oysters.

Maurice River from the Bluffs
The Maurice River from the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve.

The Maurice River starts where two smaller streams, Still Run and Scotland Run, meet. This happens under Willow Grove Lake in Pittsgrove, Salem County. From there, it flows mostly south-southeast. It passes about 2 miles (3 km) west of Vineland.

When the river reaches Millville, it forms a lake called Union Lake. This lake is about 3 miles (5 km) long. South of Millville, the river becomes wide enough for boats. This part is called an estuary and is about 10 miles (16 km) long. It finally empties into Maurice River Cove on Delaware Bay. Other streams like Menantico Creek, the Manumuskin River, and Muskee Creek also join the estuary.

Protecting the River's Environment

The Maurice River is considered very clean and special for this area. It connects the unique Pine Barrens to the Delaware Bay. This connection is very important for many plants and animals.

The river is home to one of the only places in New Jersey where wild rice grows. It also provides a home for more than half of all the animal species in New Jersey that are in danger of disappearing. Because of its importance, the U.S. Congress decided to protect parts of the river. In 1993, about 28.9 miles (46.5 km) of the river and its smaller streams were named the Maurice National Scenic and Recreational River. This is part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program.

Two local groups work to protect the Maurice River. Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. focuses on the southern part of the river's watershed. The South Jersey Land and Water Trust works on the northern part.

Maurice River Tributaries

Many smaller streams flow into the Maurice River. These are called tributaries. Some of the important ones include:

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