|
|
Delaware WatershedsDelaware is a beautiful low-lying state full of valuable natural resources. At its highest point, less than 450 feet above sea level, the state sits on a level plan. The northern county, New Castle, is associated with the Appalachian Piedmont; undulating with variant rolling landscapes. As you move south, the state transitions quickly, following the Atlantic Coastal Plan. This is a relatively flat area with sandy and saturated soils. Along the western edge of the state is a broad flat of about 75 to 80 feet in altitude, which creates a divide between two major watersheds. The two major watersheds are the Chesapeake Bay in the west and the Delaware River to the east. The Christina River and the Brandywine Creek are the foremost systems that drain into the Delaware. The Delaware Bay has many sandy beaches, shallow lagoons and is marshy in large areas. The Chesapeake Bay is a large watershed that extends from Virginia at it southern end, and New York to the north. Delaware has numerous streams, rivers and watersheds. Below you will find links that will provide you with information about some of these systems. Brandywine-ChristinaThe Brandywine-Christina 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers
231,734 acres. The entire Delaware portion of the watershed is located in New
Castle County. There are 283 farms located in the subbasin. The average farm
size is 200 acres, but about 5 percent of the farms are between 500 and 1,000
acres and another 6 percent exceed 1,000 acres in size. Broadkill-Smyrna WatershedThe Broadkill-Smyrna 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers
406,029 acres. Approximately 60 percent of the subbasin is located in Kent
County, 30 percent is in Sussex County and the remaining 10 percent is in New
Castle County. There are 781 farms located in the subbasin . The average farm
size is 257 acres, but about 5 percent of the farms are between 500 and 1,000
acres and another 5 percent exceed 1,000 acres in size. Chesapeake BayThe Chesapeake Bay Watershed is a large ecosystem that encompasses six
states: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia.
In Delaware, the western edges of Delaware’s three counties, New Castle, Kent
and Sussex, contribute to the health and integrity of the Chesapeake Bay.
Approximately 34% of Delaware’s acreage drains into the bay system, with nearly
all of that in agricultural production. ChincoteagueThe Chincoteague 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers 202,945
acres. The entire Delaware portion of the Chincoteague watershed is in Sussex
County. There are a total of 398 farms located in the basin. The average farm
size is 216 acres, but about 5 percent of the farms are between 500 and 1,000
acres and another 6 percent exceed 1,000 acres in size. Chester Sassafras WatershedThe Chester-Sassafras 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers
36,263 acres. Approximately 70 percent of the subbasin is located in New Castle
County and the remaining 30 percent is in Kent County. There are 76 farms
located in the subbasin . The average farm size is 200 acres, but about 5
percent of the farms are between 500 and 1,000 acres and another 6 percent
exceed 1,000 acres in size. Choptank River WatershedThe Choptank River 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers 62,191
acres. The entire Delaware portion of the subbasin is located in Kent County.
There are 115 farms located in the subbasin . The average farm size is 257
acres, but about 5 percent of the farms are between 500 and 1,000 acres and
another 5 percent exceed 1,000 acres in size. Nanticoke River and Blackwater - Wicomico WatershedThe Nanticoke River 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers
316,371 acres. The small portion of the Blackwater-Wicomico adjacent to the
Nanticoke covers 1,313 acres. The two watersheds cover a combined 317,684 acres.
About 85 percent of the Nanticoke River watershed and all of the Blackwater-Wicomico
are in Sussex County. The northern section of the Nanticoke River basin about
about 15 percent is in Kent County. There are a total of 674 farms located in
the two basins. The average farm size is 216 acres, but about 5 percent of the
farms are between 500 and 1,000 acres and another 6 percent exceed 1,000 acres
in size. Pocomoke WatershedThe Pocomoke River 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin covers
28,636 acres. The entire Delaware portion of the Pocomoke River Watershed is
in Sussex County. There are a total of 59 farms located in the basin. The
average farm size is 216 acres, but about 5 percent of the farms are between
500 and 1,000 acres and another 6 percent exceed 1,000 acres in size. |
|
|