Located in Kent County, the St. Jones River watershed covers 57,643 acres of the Delaware Bay Basin. The St. Jones River is dammed at Silver Lake in Dover and then winds 10 miles through residential and commercially developed areas, the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area, before emptying into Delaware Bay.

The goal of this wetland assessment project was to determine the health of both tidal and nontidal wetlands in the St. Jones River watershed, changes in wetland acreage, and to identify the presence of wetland stressors that are degrading wetlands. Data was collected between 2007 and 2008.

Long-Term Goals

The data gathered during this study on wetland health, stressor information, and watershed wide trends will guide and improve future protection and restoration activities, education, and land use planning to ensure the conservation of Delaware’s wetland resources.

Wetland Assessment Report

• St. Jones Wetland Condition Report
• St. Jones Wetland Health Report Card

Next Steps – Developing a St. Jones Watershed Restoration Plan

The wetland assessment data garnered from this study will be used to design a restoration strategy for the watershed. The plan will be developed by an interagency team of scientists and managers.

Opportunities for both increasing wetland quality and quantity in target areas will be identified by integrating the data from the wetland monitoring and assessment program with data from other strategies and efforts.

Pollution Control

Contact the St. Jones Watershed Coordinator housed in DNREC’s Watershed Assessment Section to learn about the Tributary Action Team, upcoming watershed restoration initiatives, and the St. Jones Pollution Control Strategy.

St. Jones Watershed Coordinator: Brittany Sturgis 302-739-9939

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

Related Topics:  assessment, river, st. jones, watershed, watershed stewardship, wetlands