Wading River (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
The Wading River is a tributary
of the Mullica River
, approximately 10.1 miles (16.3 km) long, in southern New Jersey
in the United States
. The river drains a rural forested area of the Pinelands, one of the most pristine areas along the coast of the northeastern United States.
in central Burlington County
, south of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
, and flows generally south through Wharton State Forest
. It joins the Oswego River
near Harrisville
to form the main stem of the Wading River. The Wading flows southeast and joins the Mullica River from the north near its mouth, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Atlantic City
. The lower 3 miles (5 km) of the river forms a navigable estuary
, an arm of the estuary of the Mullica, just west of the Garden State Parkway
.
Like the Mullica, the river is noted for its extensive wetlands, including large runs of striped bass
.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mullica River
Mullica River
The Mullica River is a river in southern New Jersey in the United States. The Mullica was once known as the Little Egg Harbor River.The river provides one of the principal drainages into the Atlantic Ocean of the extensive Pinelands...
, approximately 10.1 miles (16.3 km) long, in southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The river drains a rural forested area of the Pinelands, one of the most pristine areas along the coast of the northeastern United States.
Course
The primary source of the Wading River is its 22.7 miles (36.5 km) West Branch, which rises north of ChatsworthChatsworth, New Jersey
Chatsworth is an unincorporated area within Woodland Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08019...
in central Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, south of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
The Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is a 34,725 acre area in the New Jersey Pine Barrens in Burlington and Ocean Counties, New Jersey.-Description:...
, and flows generally south through Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within ...
. It joins the Oswego River
Oswego River (New Jersey)
The Oswego River is a tributary of the Wading River in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens in the United States.-References:*Gertler, Edward. Garden State Canoeing, Seneca Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9605908-8-9-External links:*...
near Harrisville
Harrisville, New Jersey
Harrisville was a small production community that was settled from around 1795 - 1914 in Bass River Township, New Jersey, United States, located about six miles northwest of New Gretna in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It is best known for producing paper under the Harris family's ownership. It was...
to form the main stem of the Wading River. The Wading flows southeast and joins the Mullica River from the north near its mouth, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. The lower 3 miles (5 km) of the river forms a navigable estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, an arm of the estuary of the Mullica, just west of the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
.
Like the Mullica, the river is noted for its extensive wetlands, including large runs of striped bass
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
.
Tributaries
- Oswego RiverOswego River (New Jersey)The Oswego River is a tributary of the Wading River in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens in the United States.-References:*Gertler, Edward. Garden State Canoeing, Seneca Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9605908-8-9-External links:*...
- Tulpehocken CreekTulpehocken Creek (New Jersey)Tulpehocken Creek is a tributary of the Wading River in Burlington County in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens in the United States.The confluence of Tulpehocken Creek and the West Branch Wading River create the Wading River....
- West Branch Wading RiverWest Branch Wading RiverThe West Branch Wading River is a tributary of the Wading River in Burlington County in the southern New Jersey Pine Barrens in the United States.The confluence of Tulpehocken Creek and the West Branch Wading River create the Wading River.-References:...