Gum Branch Watershed
Watershed Description
Coastal Plain Atlantic White Cedar-Red Maple Swamp Forest in Gum Branch Watershed
Gum Branch watershed is part of the greater Nanticoke River watershed, covers 19,756 acres and is located to the northeast of Seaford, Delaware.
Watershed Area: 19,756 acres (7,995 hectares)
Location: North-central Sussex County in southern Delaware between the Nanticoke River on the west and Mispillion River on the north.
Flow Direction: Southwest towards the Nanticoke River and then the Chesapeake Bay.
Characteristics: Mostly agricultural and rural watershed with flat terrain except around watercourses.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
Like a lot of other watersheds, agricultural field is in the #1 spot for land cover for Gum Branch. Areas that still need to be attributed are #2. Cultivated lawn is in the #3 spot. Forests, Red Maple-Gum Successional Swamp Forest and Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest take the #4 and #5 ranks.
| Gum Branch Watershed Vegetation Communities/Land Cover (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Agricultural Field | 8,150.00 | 3,298.00 |
| Unknown Forested Community | 2,114.00 | 856.00 |
| Cultivated Lawn | 1,665.00 | 674.00 |
| Red Maple-Gum Successional Swamp Forest | 1,511.00 | 611.00 |
| Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest | 1,336.00 | 541.00 |
*The table above is subject to change with more watershed mapping.
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 that is in the process of completion and is provided “as is” for informational purposes. Email robcoxe@baccharisconsulting.com for shapefile requests.