I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2650
To designate portions of the Maurice River and its tributaries in the State
of New Jersey as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 15, 1993
Mr. HUGHES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To designate portions of the Maurice River and its tribu-
taries in the State of New Jersey as components of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the Maurice River and its tributaries,
Menantico Creek, the Manumuskin River, and
Muskee Creek, are eligible for inclusion into the Na-
tional Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the segments
and their classifications being as follows—
(A) the Maurice River, lower segment,
from the United States Geological Survey Sta-
tion at Shellpile to Route 670 Bridge at
Mauricetown, approximately 7.0 miles, as a rec-
reational river;
(B) the Maurice River, middle segment,
from Route 670 Bridge at Mauricetown to 3.6
miles upstream (at drainage ditch just up-
stream of Fralinger Farm), approximately 3.8
miles as a scenic river;
(C) the Maurice River, middle segment,
from the drainage ditch just upstream of
Fralinger Farm to one-half mile upstream from
the United States Geological Survey Station at
Burcham Farm, approximately 3.1 miles, as a
recreational river;
(D) the Maurice River, upper segment,
from one-half mile upstream from the United
States Geological Survey Station at Burcham
Farm to the south side of the Millville sewage
treatment plant, approximately 3.6 miles, as a
scenic river;
(E) the Menantico Creek, lower segment,
from its confluence with the Maurice River to
the Route 55 Bridge, approximately 1.4 miles,
as a recreational river;
(F) the Menantico Creek, upper segment,
from the Route 55 Bridge to the base of the
Impoundment at Menantico Lake, approxi-
mately 6.5 miles, as a scenic river;
(G) the Manumuskin River, lower segment,
from its confluence with the Maurice River to
2.0 miles upstream, as a recreational river;
(H) the Manumuskin River, upper seg-
ment, from 2.0 miles upstream from its con-
fluence with the Maurice River to headwaters
near Route 557, approximately 12.3 miles, as a
scenic river; and
(I) the Muskee Creek from its confluence
to the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line
Railroad bridge, approximately 2.7 miles, as a
scenic river;
(2) a resource assessment of the Maurice River
and 
its 
tributaries, 
Menantico 
Creek, 
the
Manumuskin River, and the Muskee Creek shows
that the area possesses numerous outstandingly re-
markable natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational
resources that are significant at the local, regional,
and international levels, including rare plant and
animal species and critical habitats for birds migrat-
ing to and from the north and south hemispheres;
and
(3) a river management plan for the river sys-
tem has been developed by the Cumberland County
Department of Planning and Development and
adopted by the Maurice River Township, Commer-
cial Township, and the City of Millville that would
meet the requirements of section 6(c) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act, the City of Vineland has
adopted a master plan which calls for river planning
and management and is in the process of adopting
zoning ordinances to implement their plan, and
Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County has
adopted a land use plan consistent with the Pine-
lands Comprehensive Plan which is more restrictive
than the Cumberland County local river manage-
ment plan.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to—
(1) declare the importance and irreplaceable re-
source values of the Maurice River and its tribu-
taries to water quality, human health, traditional
economic activities, ecosystem integrity, biotic diver-
sity, fish and wildlife, scenic open space and recre-
ation and protect such values through designation of