To introduce ourselves, I thought it best to begin this column by telling you a little about Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc.

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the local Maurice River Watershed. Our work is primarily within the region known as Down Jersey. We would like to enable future generations to enjoy the environmental, recreational and cultural treasures that we enjoy today. We work to empower the community in which we live to help us all to promote the region’s well-being and quality of life. We invite you to join us by participating in the fostering of responsible stewardship.

A sampling of our activities includes banding osprey, organizing festivals, updating the website, instructing teachers, advocating for preservation, building boats with inner city youth, participating in ornithological surveys for over 21 years and in cultural survey work, advocating for natural resource legislation, banding purple martins, engaging in habitat conservation projects, offering educational scholarships, and monitoring eagles’ nests and rare plant populations.

In our Cumberland Reminder column we want to share with you, the reader, information about the types of projects, research, education, and fun things we do to create a greater awareness of the natural world around us and also to share stories about the wonderful wildlife to be found in our area.

Our region has received numerous accolades and designations that recognize it as a global treasure. CU is proud to have been a catalyst on many of those occasions. One of the recognitions that we were instrumental in achieving is the Wild and Scenic Rivers designation by the National Park Service and the US Congress. The Maurice, Manumuskin, Menantico and Muskee Rivers boast vast wetlands and adjacent forest complexes that are important habitat for a diversity of wildlife species. Because of its unspoiled marshes and forests, our region supports New Jersey’s greatest concentrations of threatened and endangered plants and animals. Its largest stand of wild rice attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl to the area each year. The mouth of the river is a critical staging area for migratory shorebirds. Each spring thousands of shorebirds feast on horseshoe crab eggs deposited on the beachfront. The upper rivers host breeding osprey and eagles.

We also have a rich cultural history. Thousands of years before European settlers arrived, Native Americans used the resources of the river. The river’s European name is thought to be derived from the Prince Maurice, a 17th century Dutch ship reputed to have sunk in its waters. So there will be lots to share from a cultural perspective as well.

It is exciting to have this opportunity to present a variety of topics that deal with our natural and cultural resources. The by-line will change from time to time as other CU members offer stories and information based on their experiences and areas of special knowledge. As you can see, there are lots of things we can share with you over the coming months. Be sure to watch for our column!

CU on the River!