Maurice River & its Tributaries WILD & SCENIC R I,V E R STUD Y Final Eligibility and Classification Report United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MID-ATLANTIC REGION 143 SOUTH THIRD STREET IN REPLY REFER TO: PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19106 L7423(MAR-PD) Maurice River 11 JUL 1988 Dear Friend of the Maurice River and its Tributaries: Enclosed is your copy of the final eligibility and classification report for the Maurice, Manumuskin , Menantico and Muskee Rivers Wild and Scenic Rivers Study. This report documents (1) the significant resource values of the Maurice River and its tributaries; (2) river segments that are eligible to be added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and (3) recommends a proposed classification (i.e., wild, scenic or recreational) for each eligible river segment . This report makes no recommend ation about whether or not the river or its tributaries should be designated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This determination will be made by the Cumberland County Task Force and municipal officials once a management plan has been written and accepted by the communities. Numerous citizens have contributed to the compilation of this report. I would like to thank those of you who sent your comments on the draft to us. We appreciate your willingness to contribute your time and expertise. This study has completely depended on the cooperation and input of citizens such as yourself. It will continue to do so as the task force begins examining management options for the Maurice, Manumuskin , Menantico and Muskee Rivers. I encourage you to read this report. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Evelyn Swimmer, Project Manager, at the above address or call (215) 597-6473. Once again, thank you for your time and assistance. Sincerely, James W. Coleman, Jr. Regional Director Enclosure Maurice River & its Tributaries WILD & SCENIC RIVER STUDY June, 1988 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Division of Park and Resource Planning J. Glenn Eugster, Division Chief David Lange, Acting Branch Chief Evelyn Swimmer, Project Manager Lisa Dewey, Planner Kathryn Kester, Planner Vaneeda L. McDonald, Secretary Delores C. Sciulli, Secretary Final Eligibility and Classification Report ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cumberland Count y Task Force St eph en Ke h s, airman Julie Akers Thomas Beauchamp William Berry Robert Daugherty Donald Fauerbach Mayor John Feltes Leslie Ficcaglia Dr. Susan Ford Robert Friant Peter & Jane Galetto Thomas Hampton Todd Heck Mark Hedden Donald Jones Richard Jones Berwyn Kirby Jack Kontes Mayor John Krokos Mayor Sumner Lippincott Jennifer Lookabauqh Warren Martinelli K. Brian McFadden Robert Morgan Mayor Judson Moore Glenn Nickerson Mayor Joseph Romano Stan Shewlakow Walter Sjogren Charles Thomas Frank Wheaton, III The following people have contributed directly to the compilation of this report: (Additional references are listed in the bibliography) Don Applegate, NJ Dept. of Agriculture Obie Ashford, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Clarence Berry, Former Task Force Member Tom Breden, NJ Natural Heritage Program Robert Callegari, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Robert Cartica, NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry Fred Cataneo, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mark Everett, Former Task Force Member George Farlekas, U.S. Geological Survey John Farnsworth, Bureau of Geology and Topography Dr. John Flickinger, Former Task Force Member Jonathon Gell, Office of NJ Heritage George Haas , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Timothy Jacobsen, Rutgers Shellfish Research Laboratory Jean Jones, Historian Haig Kasaback, NJ Geological Survey Morgan Morris, Former Task Force Member Paul Nickerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Larry Niles , NJ DEP Div. Fish, Game and Wildlife Daniel O'Conner, Former Task Force Member Tony Petrongolo, NJ DEP Div. Fish, Game and Wildlife Walter Quist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Keith Robinson, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection Bruce Runnels, The Nature Conservancy Edward Salmon, Former Task Force Member Chuck Sterns, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Robert Stokes, NJ DEP Green Acres Program Robert Tudor, NJ DEP Division of Coastal Resources Thomas Wells, NJ Conservation Foundation Dr. Lorraine Williams , NJ State Museum Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnology Bob Zampella, NJ Pinelands Commission Robert Zappalorti, Herpetological Associates CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION A. Legislated Segments 1 B. Added Segments 2 C. Study Segment Map 4 II. THE NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM A. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 5 B. The Nationwide Rivers Inventory 6 C. Congressional Wild and Scenic Rivers Study Process 7 III. MAJOR FINDINGS A. Eligible Segments and Proposed Classification 9 B. Basis for Finding of Eligibility and Classification 11 C. Ineligible Segments 15 0. Basis for Finding of Ineligibility 15 E. Eligibility and Classification Segment Map 16 IV. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA A. Regional Setting 17 B. Land Use 17 C. Physiography and Geology 18 D. Surface Water 19 E. Vegetation 20 F. Wildlife 21 G. Fisheries 23 H. Prehistoric Archeology 24 I. History 25 J. Recreation 27 V. APPENDICES A. Bibliography/Source Material 30 B. Classification for Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Areas (excerpt Federal Re g ister) 34 C. Eligibility and Classification Evaluation for Segments 35 D. Explanation of Element Ranks 47 I. INTRODUCTION A. Legislated Segments On May 7, 1987, legislation was passed (Public Law 100-33) authorizing the study of the Maurice and Manumuskin Rivers and Menantico Creek as potential additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This study is being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the National Park Service with assistance from a task force of state and local government representatives and area residents. It was formally initiated in September 1987. The purpose of this report is to: 1) indicate which river areas are eligible for inclusion in the national system; and 2) to indicate the appropriate classification of eligible segments should the rivers be designated. This assessment makes no recommendations as to whether or not the eligible river segments should be placed in the national system. The report only indicates the study teams findings regarding the rivers' eligibility for potential inclusion. The National Park Service will abide by the decision of local governments and the river community as to whether or not to pursue designation. Public Law 100-33 authorizes the following river segments to be studied for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System: Length Name Segment Description in Miles Maurice River From Shellpile to the point three miles north of Laurel Lake 16.4 Manumuskin River From its confluence with the Maurice River to the crossing of State Route 49 6.6 Menantico Creek From its confluence with the Maurice River to its source (Interpreted to include Panther Branch and Cedar Branch) 1 B. Additional Segments On November 5, 1987, at the Maurice, Manumuskin and Menantico Wild and Scenic Rivers Study Task Force resource sub-committee meeting, the National Park Service received nominations for adding portions of the Maurice and Manumuskin Rivers and Muskee Creek to the existing study area. Expansion of legislated segments is possible without a formal action by Congress. The Federal Register (Vol. 47, No 173/Tuesday, September 7, 1982) states: "If areas adjacent to the study area have been studied and found eligible, the report may present alternatives which incorporate such areas into the river area proposed for designation. Such expansion of the original study area either in length or width may be desirable to preserve and facilitate management of river ecosystems, historic or archeological arfeas or other special areas" (p.19548). Four additional river segments were recommended to be studied for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. City or Name Segment Description Township Miles Maurice River Confluence with Delaware Bay Commercial 2.8 (east side of Fowler Island) Maurice River to Shellpile Maurice River From point three miles north Miliville 3.6 of Laurel Lake to Union Lake Dam Manumuskin River From Cumberland Pond at State Buena Vista 7.7 Route 49 to source Vineland Maurice-River Muskee Creek From its confluence with the Maurice River 2.7 Maurice River to the PA Reading Seashore Line Railroad Bridge at Jones Mill 2 The entire task force then received copies of each addition proposed. There was a discussion at the December 14, 1987 task force meeting with a vote taken by mail - in ballot. The task force approved the addition of the segments for study provided all the affected municipalities agreed by resolution. Resolutions were passed by City of Millville, City of Vineland, Maurice River Township and Buena Vista. No action was taken by Commercial Township . Therefore, the following segments were added and studied to determine their eligibility and classification for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. City or Name Segment Description Township Miles Upper Maurice From point 3 river miles north Millville 3.6 River #2 of Laurel Lake to Union Lake Dam Upper Manumuskin From Cumberland Pond at State Buena Vista 7.7 River #2 Route 49 to source Vineland Maurice River Muskee Creek From its confluence with the Maurice River 2.7 Maurice River to the Pennsyl- vania Reading Seashore Line Railroad Bridge 3 LEGEND: STUDY SEGMENTS Additional EL A N VIN Union) _ Lake _\ AURICE RIVER / MAURICE , MANUMUSKIN AND MENANTICO CONGRESSIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS STUDY a II. NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM A. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 90-542, as amended ) establishes a framework whereby the nation's outstanding rivers and streams may be permanently protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. In passing the Act, Congress declared that the established policy of building dams, levees , and other river construction would be complemented by a policy to preserve selected rivers, or sections thereof, in their free-flowing condition.