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.
PL 103-162 (H.R.2650), enacted 12/01/1993

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107 STAT. 1968 
PUBLIC LAW 103-162—DEC. 1, 1993 
Public Law 108-162 
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103d Congress 
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An Act 
Dec. 1, 1993 
To designate portions of the Maurice River and its tributaries in the State of 
[H.R. 2650] 
New Jersey as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
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(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds t h a t ^ 
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(1) the Maurice River and its tributaries, Menantico Creek, 
the Manumuskin River, and Muskee Creek, are eligible for 
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s^ inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 
t,> the segments and their classifications being as follows— 
(A) the Maurice River, lower segment, from the United 
States Geological Survey Station at Shellpile to Route 670 
Bridge at Mauricetown, approximately 7.0 miles, as a rec-
reational river; 
(B) the Maurice River, middle segment, fi:*om Route 
670 Bridge at Mauricetown to 3.6 miles upstream (at drain-
age ditch just upstream of Fralinger Farm), approximately 
3.8 miles as a scenic river; 
(C) the Maurice River, middle segment, from the drain-
age ditch just upstream of Fralinger Farm to one-half 
mile upstream fi-om 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 sce-
nic river; 
(E) the Menantico Creek, lower segment, from its con-
fluence 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, approximately 6.5 miles, as a scenic river; 
PUBLIC LAW 103-162—DEC. 1, 1993 
107 STAT. 1969 
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(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 segment, from 2.0 
miles upstream from its confluence 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 Penn-
sylvania Reading Seashore Line Railroad bridge, approxi-
mately 2.7 miles, as a scenic river; 
(2) a resource assessment of the Maiuice River and its 
tributaries, Menantico Creek, the Manumuskin River, and the 
Muskee Creek shows that the area possesses numerous out-
standingly remarkable natural, cultural, scenic, and rec-
reational resources that are significant at the local, regional, 
and international levels, including rare plant and animal spe-
cies and critical habitats for birds migrating to and from the 
north and south hemispheres; and 
(3) a river management plan for the river system has 
been developed by the Cumberland County Department of Plan-
ning and Development and adopted by the Maurice River Town-
ship, Commercial 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 Pinelands Comprehensive 
Plan which is more restrictive than the Cumberland Coimty 
local river management plan. 
(b) PURPOSES.—^The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) declare the importance and irreplaceable resource val-
ues of the Maurice River and its tributaries to water quality, 
human health, traditional economic activities, ecosystem integ-
rity, biotic diversity, fish and wildlife, scenic open space and 
recreation and protect such values through designation of the 
segments as components of the National Wild andScenic Rivers 
System; 
(2) recognize that the Maurice River System will continue 
to be threatened by major development and that land use 
regulations of the individual local political jurisdictions through 
which the river segments pass cannot alone provide for an 
adequate balance between conservation of the river's resources 
and commercial and industrial development; and 
(3) recognize that segments of the Maurice River and its 
tributaries additional to those designated under this Act are 
eligible for potential designation at some point in the near 
future. 
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION. 
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1274(a)) is amended by adding the following new paragraphs at 
the end thereof: 
"( ) THE MAURICE RIVER, MIDDLE SEGMENT.—From Route 670 
Bridge at Mauricetown to 3.6 miles upstream (at drainage ditch 
just upstream of Fralinger Farm), approximately 3.8 miles to be 
administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a scenic river. 
107 STAT. 1970 
PUBLIC LAW 103-162—DEC. 1, 1993 
"( ) THE MAURICE RIVER, MIDDLE SEGMENT.—From the drain-
age 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, to be administered by the Secretary of 
the Interior as a recreational river. 
"( ) THE MAURICE RIVER, UPPER SEGMENT.—From one-half 
mile upstream from the United States Geolo^cal Survey Station 
at Burcham Farm to the south side of the MiUville sewage treat-
ment plant, approximately 3.6 miles, to be administered by the 
Secretary of the Interior as a scenic river. 
"( ) THE MENANTICO CREEK, LOWER SEGMENT.—From its con-
fluence with the Maurice River to the Route 55 Bridge, approxi-
mately 1.4 miles, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior 
as a recreational river. 
"( ) THE MENANTICO CREEK, UPPER SEGMENT.—From the 
Route 55 Bridge to the base of the impoundment at Menantico 
Lake, approximately 6.5 miles, to be administered by the Secretary 
of the Interior as a scenic river. 
"( ) MANUMUSKIN RIVER, LOWER SEGMENT.—From its con-
fluence with the Maurice River to a point 2.0 miles upstream, 
to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a recreational 
river. 
"( ) MANUMUSKIN RIVER, UPPER SEGMENT.—From a point 2.0 
miles upstream from its confluence with the Maurice River to 
its headwaters near Route 557, approximately 12.3 miles, to be 
administered by the Secretary of the Interior as a scenic river. 
"( ) MUSKEE CREEK, NEW JERSEY.—From its confluence with 
the Maurice River to the Pennsylvania Seashore Line Railroad 
Bridge, approximately 2.7 miles, to be administered by the Secretary 
of the Interior as a scenic river.". 
16 use 1274 
SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT. 
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(a) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
manage the river segments designated as components of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by this Act through 
cooperative agreements with the political jurisdictions within which 
sucn segments pass, pursuant to section 10(e) of the Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act, and in consultation with such jurisdictions, except 
that publicly-owned lands within the boundaries of such segments 
shall continue to be managed by the agency having jurisdiction 
over such lands. 
(b) AGREEMENTS.—(1) Cooperative agreements for management 
of the river segments referred to in subsection (a) shall provide 
for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of such 
segments and shall be consistent with the comprehensive manage-
ment plan for such segments to be prepared by the Secretary 
of the Interior pursuant to section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act and with the local river management plans prepared 
by appropriate local political jurisdictions in conjunction with the 
l^cretary of the Interior. 
(2) The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with appro-
priate representatives of local political jurisdictions and the State 
of New Jersey, shall review local river management plans described 
in paragraph (1) to assiu'e that their proper implementation will 
protect the values for which the river segments described in section 
2 were designated as components of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System. If after such review the Secretary determines that 
PUBLIC LAW 103-162—DEC. 1, 1993 
107 STAT. 1971 
such plans and their implementing local zoning ordinances meet 
the protection standards specified in section 6(c) of the Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act, then such plans shall be deemed to constitute 
'local zoning ordinances" and each township and other incorporated 
local jurisdiction covered by such plans shall be deemed to constitute 
a "village" for the purposes of section 6(c) (prohibiting the ac(]^uisi-
tion of lands by condemnation) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act. 
(3) The Secretary of the Interior shall biennially review compli-
ance with the local river management plans described in paragraph 
(1) and shall promptly report to the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the United States House of Representatives and to 
the Committee on Energpr and Natural Resources of the United 
States Senate any deviation fi*om such which would result in any 
diminution of the values for which the river segment concerned 
was designated as a component of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System. 
(c) PLANNING ASSISTANCE.—^The Secretary of the Interior may 
provide planning assistance to local political subdivisions of the 
State of New Jersey through which flow river segments that are 
designated as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System, and may enter into memoranda of understanding or 
cooperative agreements with oflicials or agencies of the United 
States or the State of New Jersey to ensure that Federal and 
State programs that could affect such segments are carried out 
in a manner consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and 
applicable river management plans. 
(d) SEGMENT ADDITIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior is 
encouraged to continue to work with the local mimicipalities to 
negotiate agreement and support for designating those segments 
of the Maurice River and its tributaries which were found eligible 
for designation pursuant to Public Law 100-33 and were not des-
ignated pursuant to this Act (hereinafter referred to as "additional 
eligible segments"). For a period of 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of tnis Act, the provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act applicable to segments included in section 5 of that Act shall 
apply to the additional eligible segments. The Secretary of the 
Interior is directed to report to the appropriate congressional 
committees within 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act on the status of discussions and negotiations with the local 
municipalities and on recommendations toward inclusion of addi-
tional river segments into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System. 
9-194 O - 94 - 2 : QL. 3 Part 3 
107 STAT. 1972 
PUBLIC LAW 103-162—DEC. 1, 1993 
(e) APPROPRIATIONS.—^For the purposes of the segment 
described by subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. 
Approved December 1, 1993. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2650: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 103-282 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 139 (1993): 
Oct. 12, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 18, considered and passed Senate.