In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-536, designating segments of the Great Egg Harbor River and its tributaries in New Jersey as components of the National Wild and Scenic River System, including 129 miles, with 24.6 miles classified as scenic and 104.4 miles as recreational. The National Park Service, through the Secretary of the Interior, was given responsibility for assuring the long-term protection of the designated corridor by working jointly with twelve municipalities and with county, state, federal, and nonprofit agencies. Flowing from pineland forests in the west through freshwater wetlands and the salt marshes of the estuary, the river and its tributaries connect to Great Egg Harbor Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, creating rich and diverse habitat for birds, fish, and mammals. The river also carries the historical and cultural heritage of southern New Jersey, having served local communities from the time of Native American encampments to the present while supporting industry in peace and war, shipbuilding, and fishing. Today it remains a major source of recreation for residents and visitors, and its ecological diversity supports American Bald Eagles and Osprey, songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, many mammals, reptiles, and fish, while also serving as an important link in the life cycle of migrating shorebirds, shellfish, and marine life beyond the estuary.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Mays Landing, New Jersey · USA