Mullica River facts for kids

Mullica River northwest of Atsion Lake

Mullica River

The Mullica River is a river in southern New Jersey, United States. It is about 50.6 miles (81.4 km) long. Long ago, people called it the Little Egg Harbor River.

This river is very important because it helps drain a large area of the Pinelands into the Atlantic Ocean. The part of the river that meets the ocean, called its estuary (where fresh and saltwater mix), is special. It's one of the cleanest and most natural wetlands in the northeastern United States.

Where the River Flows

The Mullica River starts in central Camden County, near a town called Berlin. This area is on the edge of the Philadelphia suburbs in New Jersey.

The river flows mostly towards the east and southeast. It goes through the beautiful Wharton State Forest. When it reaches a place called The Forks, it meets another river, the Batsto River. From there, the Mullica River gets wider and becomes easy to travel on by boat. This wider part is about 20 miles (32 km) long.

The river continues flowing east-southeast and eventually empties into Great Bay. This bay is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Atlantic City. The water in the Mullica River starts to get a little salty (brackish) after it passes under the bridge at Green Bank.

Before it reaches Great Bay, the Mullica River meets two more rivers. About 3 miles (5 km) upstream from its mouth, it connects with the Wading River from the north. Then, about 2 miles (3 km) upstream, it meets the Bass River, also from the north.

The entire area that the Mullica River and its smaller streams drain is huge, about 568 square miles (1,470 km²). Most of this land is covered by pine forests and scrubland.

The lower part of the river, where it meets the bay, has many wetlands. These important areas are protected. On the southern side of the river, you'll find the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, which helps keep these natural habitats safe.

Amazing River Animals

The Mullica River is a fantastic place for many different kinds of animals, especially fish and birds.

Fish and Crabs

The river is a key spot where striped bass come to lay their eggs. In the spring, blueback herring swim up the river and its smaller streams to reproduce.

In the freshwater parts of the river, you can find many healthy fish like white catfish, pickerel, white perch, crappie, white sucker, and largemouth bass.

Closer to the bay, where the water is salty or brackish, you might see weakfish, winter flounder, bluefish, American eel, and summer flounder. Blue claw crabs are also very common in the lower parts of the river and in the small streams that flow through the salty marshes.

These tidal creeks are also home to the northern diamondback terrapin, a type of turtle. This turtle is considered a special species by the government, meaning it needs extra care to protect its population.

Birds of the River

The Mullica River is a great place for many birds to live and raise their young, or to stop during their long migrations.

Some of the interesting birds you might spot include the common tern, black skimmer, laughing gull, piping plover, least tern, great black-backed gull, and the majestic osprey. You might also see great egrets, black-crowned night herons, clapper rails, Virginia rails, merlins, and marsh wrens.

During migration seasons, many other birds visit the river's estuary. These include Canada geese, American black ducks, mallards, tundra swans, and northern pintails.

How the River Got Its Name

The Mullica River is named after a man named Eric Pålsson Mullica. He was an early settler from Finland who was born in 1636. He built his home along the river after moving from near Philadelphia. His settlement was about 15 miles (24 km) upstream from the river's mouth, close to where the town of Lower Bank is today.

Smaller Streams and Creeks

The Mullica River has many smaller streams and creeks that flow into it. These are called tributaries. Here are some of them: