Murderkill River Watershed
Watershed Description
Tributary to Murderkill River at Penuel Tract
The town of Frederica is the prominent population center on the Murderkill River. Killens Pond State Park is also located on this river.
Watershed Area: 66,721 acres (27,001 hectares)
Location: Southeastern Kent County in central Delaware between the St. Jones River on the north and Mispillion River on the south.
Flow Direction: Generally northeast towards Delaware Bay.
Characteristics: Agricultural and rural watershed with population centers at Frederica and Little Heaven.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
More than half of the area of the Murderkill River watershed is in agricultural use. Cultivated lawn ranks as #2 and impervious surface ranks as #5. Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest ranks as #3 and is the largest “natural community” type. Unidentified land ranks as #4.
| Murderkill River Watershed Vegetation Community/Land Covers (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Agricultural Field | 34,066.00 | 13,786.00 |
| Cultivated Lawn | 8,620.00 | 3,488.00 |
| Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest | 4,831.00 | 1,955.00 |
| Unknown Forested Community | 3,564.00 | 1,442.00 |
| Impervious Surface | 3,288.00 | 1,331.00 |
*The table above is subject to change with more watershed mapping.
Managed Lands
- Killens Pond State Park
- Milford Neck Wildlife Area
Links of Interest
- State of Delaware Watersheds
- Wikipedia page
- Murderkill History Article
- TMDL Report
- Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory
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.