Pea Patch Island Watershed
Watershed Description
Delaware River from north end of Pea Patch Island (looking north-upstream)
Pea Patch Island is located in the middle of the Delaware River just upstream of where is becomes Delaware Bay. This watershed covers the area of the island and shoreline of the river in the vicinity. It is also called Lower Delaware River watershed on some maps. The island used to be the home of a prison that housed Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
Watershed Area: 16,750 acres (6,778 hectares)
Location: Eastern New Castle County in northern Delaware.
Flow Direction: South towards Delaware Bay.
Characteristics: Mostly water-based watershed just above Delaware Bay.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
Estuarine Coastal Oligohaline Water is the #1 covering more than half of the watershed. Modified land on the island ranks #2. Reed Tidal Marsh on the island ranks #3. Cultivated lawn around the fort accounts for very little area but ranks #4. Northeastern Modified Successional Forest finishes the list at #5.
| Pea Patch Island Watershed Vegetation Community/Land Covers (Top 5 for 2007) | ||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Estuarine Coastal Oligohaline Water | 14,578.00 | 5,899.00 |
| Modified Land | 572.00 | 231.00 |
| Reed Tidal Marsh | 127.00 | 51.00 |
| Cultivated Lawn | 42.00 | 17.00 |
| Northeastern Modified Successional Forest | 40.00 | 16.00 |
*The table above is subject to change with more watershed mapping.
Managed Lands
Links of Interest
- Wikipedia page (Pea Patch Island)
- Fort Delaware: Haunted Prison
- Wikipedia page (Fort Delaware)
- Fort Delaware Society
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.