Mispillion River Watershed
Watershed Description
Mispillion River near Swan Creek
Part of the Kent and Sussex County border is determined by the Mispillion River. The City of Milford is located at the head of tide on this river.
Watershed Area: 48,182 acres (19,499 hectares)
Location: Southeastern Kent County and northeastern Sussex County between the Murderkill River on the north and Cedar Creek on the south.
Flow Direction: Northeast towards Delaware Bay.
Characteristics: Agricultural, rural and urban (Milford) watershed that contains a mixture of flat and rolling terrain.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
Agricultural Field is the largest land cover in the Mispillion River watershed. Cultivated lawn and the associated impervious surface rank #2 and #5 respectively. North Atlantic Low Salt Marsh at the eastern end of the watershed ranks #3. Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest is the largest forest community and ranks #5.
| Mispillion River Watershed Vegetation Community/Land Covers (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Agricultural Field | 19,102.00 | 7,730.00 |
| Cultivated Lawn | 5,940.00 | 2,404.00 |
| North Atlantic Low Salt Marsh | 4,792.00 | 1,939.00 |
| Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest | 3,474.00 | 1,406.00 |
| Impervious Surface | 2,751.00 | 1,113.00 |
*The table above is subject to change with more watershed mapping.
Managed Lands
- Abbott’s Mill Nature Center
- Milford Neck Wildlife Area
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 still in the process of completion and is provided “as is” for informational purposes. Email robcoxe@baccharisconsulting.com for shapefile requests.