Watershed Description
The Gravelly Branch watershed is part of the greater Nanticoke River group of watersheds. It is located northeast of Seaford, Delaware and covers 24,511 acres.
Watershed Area: 24,511 acres (9,919 hectares)
Location: North-central Sussex County in southern Delaware between Cedar Creek on the north and Deep Creek on the south.
Flow Direction: Southwest towards the Nanticoke River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Characteristics: Agricultural and rural watershed. The terrain is generally flat except near watercourses.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
Agricultural field takes the #1 rank for coverage in the Gravelly Branch watershed. Forests, Red Maple-Gum Successional Swamp Forest, Early to Mid-Successional Loblolly Pine Forest, Loblolly Pine Plantation and Northeastern Coastal Plain Mixed Oak/Heath Forest take the #2 to #5 ranks, respectively.
Gravelly Branch Watershed Vegetation Communities/Land Cover (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
Agricultural Field | 6,558.27 | 2,654.04 |
Red Maple-Gum Successional Swamp Forest | 2,731.16 | 1,105.26 |
Early to Mid-Successional Loblolly Pine Forest | 2,374.40 | 960.89 |
Loblolly Pine Plantation | 2,128.18 | 861.24 |
Northeastern Coastal Plain Mixed Oak/Heath Forest | 1,844.41 | 746.41 |
Managed Lands
Links of Interest
Vegetation Community/Land Cover Maps Available
One vegetation community/land cover map based on 2007 aerial imagery is available in .pdf format. The map is in the process of completion and is provided “as is” for informational purposes. Email robcoxe@baccharisconsulting.com for shapefile requests.