On the 1876 map created by the NJ Riparian Commission, Long Reach ends at a curt u-turn in the Maurice River. This hairpin reach is known as Northwest. On this map, on the shores along Maurice River Township, the high meadows that push far inland are the property of George Cadwalader, one of the interesting landowners that colored the history of the Maurice River.

The colorful cast of landowners and the weather are two constants for those who live, work and play on the river. Summer storms and winter blizzards provided some of the more dramatic moments in Maurice River history. Here is just one example that caused a pause in  "normal life" along these lower reaches: "The thickness of the ice measured nine inches off the Bivalve pier yesterday, while it was believed to be as thick as 15-18 inches in the Northwest reach which was the first section of the river to freeze solid.”

This untitled newspaper article, dated February 2, 1958, reported that the Maurice River was frozen from shore to shore. Bivalve's boat owners were concerned about a sudden thaw and were worried that wind and heavy rains would cause terrible damage to the ships that have been stuck at their docks. The article continued: "This week youngsters and adults have been walking across the ice from Bivalve to the village of Maurice River, while others have managed to chop holes in the ice and have enjoyed ice fishing."

NJ State Troopers who work from the Marine Police Station in Bivalve are still using many of the age-old reach names as reference points during their patrols of the Maurice River. While these river designations are not "official," the landscape and lore of the names define and give character to the twists and turns of the Maurice. And some of the names just make sense.

Trooper Stanley Symanski said that Northwest reach is aptly named. "While you travel upriver along this reach, if you look at a compass, you'll see that it actually runs northwest."