Map of lower Metedeconk River. Grids are 1 km square. The Metedeconk River (pronounced muh-TEE-duh-KUHNGK) of Central Eastern New Jersey flows from its North Branch (20 miles/32 km long) and its South Branch (15 miles/24 km long) to their confluence at Forge Pond, where the river then widens (up to just over a mile) and flows southeast for 6 miles/9.7 km into the Barnegat Bay. The river is tidal, as the Barnegat Bay is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the Metedeconk would flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean were it not for a narrow strip (less than 1 mile wide) of New Jersey known as Island Beach.
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.
At its most eastern face (where it meets Island Beach), the Metedeconk 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 seperated from the Metedeconk by about 3 miles of land. The Manasquan River flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Metedeconk River is important to local wildlife and the surrounding human populations, providing a place of recreation as it winds through the towns of Brick, Freehold, Howell, Jackson, Wall, Lakewood and Millstone. 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.
Like many area streets, waterways and towns, Metedeconk is the original word or phrase used by the pre-European peoples of the area, the Lenape.
See Also
list of New Jersey rivers
External Links
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