Brandywine Creek Watershed
Watershed Description
Little Bluestem Old Field in Brandywine Creek State Park
Brandywine Creek drains the eastern and northern parts of the City of Wilmington and is highly urbanized in the lower part. The upper parts of the watershed in Delaware are generally fields and forest and is the location of Brandywine Creek State Park and the First State National Park.
Watershed Area: 14,639 acres (5,924 hectares)
Location: Northern New Castle County in northern Delaware.
Flow Direction: South towards the Christina River and then to the Delaware River.
Characteristics: Urbanized lower section with rural upper section.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
Cultivated lawn and impervious surface rank as the first and second largest land covers in one of the most developed watershed areas in Delaware. Northern Piedmont Mesic Oak-Beech Forest is the largest “natural community” and covers 2,165 acres. Northeastern Old Field is present in the upper portions of the watershed and covers 1,997 acres. Brandywine Creek State Park is the main location for Northeastern Modified Successional Forest.
| Brandywine Creek Watershed Vegetation Communities/Land Cover (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Cultivated Lawn | 8,030.00 | 3,249.00 |
| Impervious Surface | 3,347.00 | 1,355.00 |
| Northern Piedmont Mesic Oak-Beech Forest | 2,165.00 | 876.00 |
| Northeastern Old Field | 1,997.00 | 808.00 |
| Northeastern Modified Successional Forest | 1,343.00 | 543.00 |
*The table above is subject to change with more watershed mapping.
Managed Lands
- Alapocas Run State Park
- Brandywine Creek State Park
- Wilmington State Park
- Flint Woods Nature Preserve
- First State National Park
Links of Interest
Vegetation Community/Land Cover Maps Available
One vegetation community/land cover map based on 2007 aerial imagery is available in a .pdf format. The map is in the process of completion and is provided “as is” for informational purposes. Email robcoxe@baccharisconsulting.com for shapefiles.