The Pocomoke watershed is partly located in southern Sussex County and extends south into Maryland. It encompasses 138,125 acres of land in both states. Though most of the Pocomoke watershed is agricultural land, this area contains Category One wetlands, which are unique and ecologically significant freshwater areas.

Wetlands within the watershed are nearly all non-tidal, freshwater wetlands, totaling 50,650 acres of the watershed area. This watershed is a combination of five sub-watersheds, including Purnell Branch, Old Mill Branch, Ninepin Branch, Whaleyville Branch, and Careytown Branch. The landscape is dominated by forest and agriculture, like grain crops and timber harvesting.

By 2018, half of the watershed’s historic wetland acreage had been lost mostly due to conversion to agricultural land. Impacts to wetland health reduce a wetland’s ability to perform fully, minimizing its valuable role in providing ecosystem services for both people and wildlife.

Overall, the Pocomoke watershed’s wetlands received a A- for their health score. This watershed has the highest wetland health score in the entire state of Delaware. Common wetland stressors were tree harvesting, invasive plants, channelized streams or ditching, and mowing.

Long Term Goals

The Pocomoke watershed needs your help. Tree harvesting, invasive plants, channelized streams or ditches, and mowing have led to wetland degradation and threaten rare plant and animal species. Based on this study, several recommendations were made to improve management and encourage informed decision making. These included:

• Support vegetated buffers for non-tidal wetlands and encourage buffer increases in the watershed.
• Increase citizen education and outreach; inform landowners about the benefit wetlands provide and create a reachable understanding of how wetlands are relevant to the public.
• Conduct conservation and restoration activities to increase the overall health and acreage of the wetlands in the watershed.
• Continue to regularly updated state wetland maps to improve accuracy of identifying and classifying wetlands.
• Work with decision makers to improve the protection of non-tidal wetlands for the future.
• Encourage landowners to protect and enhance wetlands or buffers on their property.
• Work to secure funding for wetland conservation and restoration on public and private property.
• Engage in best management practices on private property.

Wetland Assessment Report

• Pocomoke Wetland Condition Report
• Pocomoke Wetland Condition Report Appendices
• Pocomoke Wetland Health Report Card

For more information about the Condition Report, contact Alison Rogerson, at 302-739-9939.

Related Topics:  assessment, pocomoke, watershed, watershed stewardship, wetlands