Map of lower Metedeconk River. Grids are 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) square.
Physical characteristics
Length
22.3-mile-long (35.9 km)
The Metedeconk River flows from its 22.3-mile-long (35.9 km)[1] North and 22.6-mile-long (36.4 km)[1] South Branches to their confluence at Forge Pond, where the river widens (up to just over 1 mile (1.6 km)) and flows southeast for 6 miles (9.7 km) into Barnegat Bay. It contains both fresh and salt-water portions.
Like many area streets, waterways and towns, Metedeconk is the original word or phrase used by the Indigenous Peoples to name themselves or to name themselves after their geography. Its name a direct reference to the Metedeconk Tribes who had two settlements, one on the North Side of the river bordering the Beaver-dam Creek in the region now called CedarCroft,[2] and one on the south side.[3]
At its most eastern face the river meets the Barnegat Peninsula, a populated but narrow strip (less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide) of New Jersey separating the Metedeconk from a direct connection with the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the river joins the Barnegat Bay to the south and the narrow, man-made Point Pleasant Canal to the north. This canal provides a convenient connection to the Manasquan River, which would otherwise be completely separated from the Metedeconk by about 3 miles (4.8 km) of land. The Manasquan River is directly connected to the Atlantic Ocean, as is Barnegat Bay.
Interactions with ocean waters
The river is of the floodplain type and is tidal, being indirectly connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan River. The Metedeconk's main oceanic interactions are through the Manasquan, via the Point Pleasant Canal. In fact, before the canal was opened in 1926, the Metedeconk and the upper part of the Barnegat Bay were mainly fresh water environments and non-tidal. Today, due to ocean tides, the waters of the Bay and the Manasquan are both inlets and outlets of the Metedeconk.
Since the canal, the waters of the lower Metedeconk have been brackish to salty and the ecology of the area has changed considerably. A visual indication of the river's connection to the ocean is the cream to brown colored foam that sometimes collects where the Metedeconk's waves beat the sandy shores or manmade bulkheads. This foam consists of the microscopic organic material that naturally builds up in the presence of aquatic life; the process of filtering organics from water through wave-like action has been mechanized in most aquariums and is known there as foam fractionating.
As of October 29, 2012, due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy hitting New Jersey, an inlet opened between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean at the river's east end, the storm having obliterated the dunes, roads, and houses that once blocked off the river from the ocean. Thus the Metedeconk technically opened to the Atlantic Ocean at the base of the Route 528 bridge, whose east end was washed away by the storm, until repairs could be attempted to the peninsula and the bridge. By February 2013, peninsula and bridge repair had effectively reclosed the inlet and reopened the bridge to limited traffic.[4]
Notable areas
The river west of Forge Pond (where it forks into North and South Branches) is known as the upper section, while the river east of Forge Pond is known as the lower section. The upper section is popular with paddle boaters. The lower section, being deeper, wider and wavier, is more popular with sailboats and powerboats.
A notable section of the lower Metedeconk is Windward Beach, a small beach sanctioned for public recreation. On the upper Metedeconk, the river flows through the fresh-water Lake Shenandoah, where a popular county park holds great attraction.
Metedeconk River Yacht Club
Metedeconk River Yacht Club was founded by a group of devoted yachtsmen in 1936. The primary purpose for which the club organized was to advance the sport of yachting and to promote the social enjoyment and good fellowship among its members.[5]
Importance to local communities
The Metedeconk River is important to local wildlife and the surrounding human populations, providing a place of recreation as it winds through the townships of Brick, Freehold Township, Howell, Jackson, Wall Township, Lakewood and Millstone Township. It is the primary source of drinking water for Brick, Point Pleasant Beach and Point Pleasant Borough. As such, it was classified as a Category 1 (C1) River, the highest level of protection offered rivers by the state of New Jersey.
Wildlife
With both fresh-water and tidal wetland portions, the Metedeconk supports an extremely diverse range of wildlife. Wild rice grows along the banks along some portions of the Metedeconk. Bald eagles have been sighted there, and ospreys nest atop nearby trees and industrial towers and come to the river to fish. Sections of the river and surrounding estuary habitat are protected as parts of New Jersey’s extensive Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, because of the river’s great significance to migratory birds and waterfowl.
Mammals of the Metedeconk include those typically found at New Jersey rivers, such as river otters and beavers. Aquatic life includes many species of fish and jellyfish, including one species whose bodies are about two-inches long and appear clear in daylight, but glow blue by night.
Hurricane Sandy
In October 2012, under the influence of Hurricane Sandy, ocean waters directly infiltrated the south branch of the river at the area of the Metedeconk Bridge. Immediate impact of the hurricane on the river included a change in salinity of the river's ecosystem, as well as elevated contaminate levels caused by relevant water treatment facilities going temporarily off-line.[6] The long-term impact of Hurricane Sandy on the river and its ecosystem remains an area of study.
^ abU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 1, 2011
^"NJDEP News Release - DEP EXPANDS RECREATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING ADVISORY TO NORTHERN BARNEGAT BAY". 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
External links
Nautical Chart of the Metedeconk River
(PDF document)
(PDF document)
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Geological Survey: NJ stream gaging stations
April 01, 2023
metedeconk, river, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available,. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Coordinates 40 03 08 N 74 05 13 W 40 05222 N 74 08694 W 40 05222 74 08694 The Metedeconk River m e ˈ t iː d e k ʌ ŋ k is a tributary of Barnegat Bay in Ocean County New Jersey in the United States Metedeconk RiverLower section of the Metedeconk in February Map of lower Metedeconk River Grids are 1 kilometre 0 62 mi square Physical characteristicsLength22 3 mile long 35 9 km The Metedeconk River flows from its 22 3 mile long 35 9 km 1 North and 22 6 mile long 36 4 km 1 South Branches to their confluence at Forge Pond where the river widens up to just over 1 mile 1 6 km and flows southeast for 6 miles 9 7 km into Barnegat Bay It contains both fresh and salt water portions Like many area streets waterways and towns Metedeconk is the original word or phrase used by the Indigenous Peoples to name themselves or to name themselves after their geography Its name a direct reference to the Metedeconk Tribes who had two settlements one on the North Side of the river bordering the Beaver dam Creek in the region now called CedarCroft 2 and one on the south side 3 Contents 1 Geographic relation to nearby water features 2 Interactions with ocean waters 3 Notable areas 3 1 Metedeconk River Yacht Club 4 Importance to local communities 5 Wildlife 6 Hurricane Sandy 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksGeographic relation to nearby water features EditAt its most eastern face the river meets the Barnegat Peninsula a populated but narrow strip less than 1 mile 1 6 km wide of New Jersey separating the Metedeconk from a direct connection with the Atlantic Ocean Here the river joins the Barnegat Bay to the south and the narrow man made Point Pleasant Canal to the north This canal provides a convenient connection to the Manasquan River which would otherwise be completely separated from the Metedeconk by about 3 miles 4 8 km of land The Manasquan River is directly connected to the Atlantic Ocean as is Barnegat Bay Interactions with ocean waters EditThe river is of the floodplain type and is tidal being indirectly connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan River The Metedeconk s main oceanic interactions are through the Manasquan via the Point Pleasant Canal In fact before the canal was opened in 1926 the Metedeconk and the upper part of the Barnegat Bay were mainly fresh water environments and non tidal Today due to ocean tides the waters of the Bay and the Manasquan are both inlets and outlets of the Metedeconk Since the canal the waters of the lower Metedeconk have been brackish to salty and the ecology of the area has changed considerably A visual indication of the river s connection to the ocean is the cream to brown colored foam that sometimes collects where the Metedeconk s waves beat the sandy shores or manmade bulkheads This foam consists of the microscopic organic material that naturally builds up in the presence of aquatic life the process of filtering organics from water through wave like action has been mechanized in most aquariums and is known there as foam fractionating As of October 29 2012 due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy hitting New Jersey an inlet opened between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean at the river s east end the storm having obliterated the dunes roads and houses that once blocked off the river from the ocean Thus the Metedeconk technically opened to the Atlantic Ocean at the base of the Route 528 bridge whose east end was washed away by the storm until repairs could be attempted to the peninsula and the bridge By February 2013 peninsula and bridge repair had effectively reclosed the inlet and reopened the bridge to limited traffic 4 Notable areas EditThe river west of Forge Pond where it forks into North and South Branches is known as the upper section while the river east of Forge Pond is known as the lower section The upper section is popular with paddle boaters The lower section being deeper wider and wavier is more popular with sailboats and powerboats A notable section of the lower Metedeconk is Windward Beach a small beach sanctioned for public recreation On the upper Metedeconk the river flows through the fresh water Lake Shenandoah where a popular county park holds great attraction Metedeconk River Yacht Club Edit Metedeconk River Yacht Club was founded by a group of devoted yachtsmen in 1936 The primary purpose for which the club organized was to advance the sport of yachting and to promote the social enjoyment and good fellowship among its members 5 Importance to local communities EditThe Metedeconk River is important to local wildlife and the surrounding human populations providing a place of recreation as it winds through the townships of Brick Freehold Township Howell Jackson Wall Township Lakewood and Millstone Township It is the primary source of drinking water for Brick Point Pleasant Beach and Point Pleasant Borough As such it was classified as a Category 1 C1 River the highest level of protection offered rivers by the state of New Jersey Wildlife EditWith both fresh water and tidal wetland portions the Metedeconk supports an extremely diverse range of wildlife Wild rice grows along the banks along some portions of the Metedeconk Bald eagles have been sighted there and ospreys nest atop nearby trees and industrial towers and come to the river to fish Sections of the river and surrounding estuary habitat are protected as parts of New Jersey s extensive Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge because of the river s great significance to migratory birds and waterfowl Mammals of the Metedeconk include those typically found at New Jersey rivers such as river otters and beavers Aquatic life includes many species of fish and jellyfish including one species whose bodies are about two inches long and appear clear in daylight but glow blue by night Hurricane Sandy EditIn October 2012 under the influence of Hurricane Sandy ocean waters directly infiltrated the south branch of the river at the area of the Metedeconk Bridge Immediate impact of the hurricane on the river included a change in salinity of the river s ecosystem as well as elevated contaminate levels caused by relevant water treatment facilities going temporarily off line 6 The long term impact of Hurricane Sandy on the river and its ecosystem remains an area of study See also EditList of New Jersey riversReferences Edit a b U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map Archived 2012 03 29 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 1 2011 Cedarcroft Club Inc History South Jersey A History 1664 1924 Volume 3 page 187 by Alfred Miller Heston Route 35 Now Open North of Mantoloking with Restrictions The Ocean Signal 2013 02 01 Archived from the original on 2013 03 16 Retrieved 2013 02 16 https metedeconkriveryc org NJDEP News Release DEP EXPANDS RECREATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING ADVISORY TO NORTHERN BARNEGAT BAY 2012 Retrieved 2012 11 27 External links EditNautical Chart of the Metedeconk River Map of lower Metedeconk and surrounding area PDF document Map of upper Metedeconk and surrounding area PDF document Point Pleasant Canal Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge U S Geological Survey NJ stream gaging stations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metedeconk River amp oldid 1112457116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
