Acknowledgments 

This booklet reflectS the work of both the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service ~nd the Delaware Depanment of 

Narural Resources and Environmental Control. Most 

of the information comes from a srud)' of wetland 

trends in the sf10te completed by the Service's National 

Wetlands Inventory Program (J.-WS-!'.'\VI). This 

srud)':md the production of the booklet were supported by the W~tershed Assessment ~tion in the Division of Water Resources of the Delaware Depanment 

of Narural Resources and Environmental Control 

(DNREC). DNREC ilio provided daf10 from its 1992 

stlltewide wetlands mapping project for inclusion in 

this booklet. Peggie Emslie (DNREC) served as project officer for the trends srud)', while David Saveikis 

(DNREC) saw the need for this information and 

secured necessary funding. lo.-1s. Emslie and Mark Biddle (ON REC) helped obtain funding for production 

of the booklet, while Mark also reviewed Ihe draft 

booklet. Ralph Tiner (FWS-NW1) served as principal 

investigator for the trends srudy. 

The welland trends analysis dal'.t in this report were 

derived through convcnllonal aerial photointerpretation techniques by John Swords (FV\'S-NWl). Sue 

Schaller (FV\'S-NWI) performed geographic informaTion ~nalysis for the ori!,nal wetl;tnds mndi report, 

while Herb Bergquist (J.WS-NWJ) helped access 

~patial d:i1tll. for this booklet. including production 

of the wetbnd dimibunon figure. Debbie SulliVlln 

(DNREC) provided wetland and upland acreage summaries from the Sf10te wetlands inventory daubase for 

use in this booklet. The booklet was designed by Craig 

Malone. 

I also thank people who contributed photographs for 

usc in this publication. Photo credits are shown for 

each photo, except for those taken by the author. 

This report should be cited as follows: 

Tiner, R.W. 2001. Ifllll'lJ)artS 'fft/(J/Ids: Status and 

Ramt Tn/Ills. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servia::, Nonheast Region. Hadley, f\ 1A. Prepared for me Delaware 

DcJYdftment of Narural Rrsourccs and Environmental 

Control. Watershed Assessment ~Tion, Division of 

Water Resources. [)oo.·er. DE. Cooperative National 

Wetlands Invelllory Publication. 19 pp. 
Delaware's 

Wetlands 

Status and 

Recent Trends 

RALPH W . TINER 

Regional Wetland Coordinolof 

us. filh (lnd Wildli!. Service 

Ecologicot Services 

Notionol Wetland, Inyentory Program 

300 W.IIgO~ C.'1er 0.; ..... 

Hadley, MA010J5 

A Coop8fot;ve No~onol W.~o"ch Inventory 

P,,~ieo ion wim Fyndil'l9 S<!pport from the 

DeIOWOf. Depo/tmeflt 01 Natural Ra.OIJfces and 

Environmental Control 

June 2001 

Contents 

Preface ii 

Imroduclion 

Delaw:ue Wetland Types 3 

Currem St:arus of Ddaw:lte Wetlands 7 

Forces Ch:.l.nging Wetlands 10 

SUl.Iewide Wetland Trends 11 

Dl'2inage Basin Summaries 13 

Future of Delaware Wetlands 15 

Wetland Resoun.:c Guide 19 

Copiel of !hll booklet may be obta ined from 

the Woter$hed N14umenr Section, Divi.ion of 

Woler R.~ cel, Delawore Deportment 01 

Notural Resource. and E"yjroomentol Control, 

820 Silvef take Ibulevord. Suite 200, Dove<, 

DE 19904-2464; 302.739-4590. 

""'''' !Wlr mMJiJ '" lIN III/lind Sap J",;nIlKr lHni". 

~" 

S'""",JUJ .. wi mllflt nNmf 
DdaUX/re's (Dasla! 

","Nhu "'~ ViM/IO sup-

/JDfling tm sllud jishi"g 

induslry. 

I TLn<f. 11.., J Sword ... OJ 

S. S<hill<f. 170/1. U~t_ 

"'''''Tmuh '" Dd"""iVt' 

191iV21o 1'192 U.S. 

Fi,h .oJ Wi!J!if. s...-

""'<' N""h<." R<gioo.. 

H:odky. />Ii\. N>twLLoI 

W.d.nds In ..... '''o''" 

n:port. .\6 1'1'" 

ii 

Preface 

lbis report is based largely on the results of a wetland trends analysis performed by the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Servia:'s National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Program. The work was funded by 

the Delaware Department of N~tural Resources 

and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division 

of Water Resources. A technical re{Xlrt on the 

study findings - Wttltlnd Tunds ill Dd«'I.I.)llu-" 

1981/2 to 19921 - was publishcd in 1999 (pleasc 

refcr to this re{Xlrt for details of study methods). 

Upon completion of this study and publication of 

the technical report, DNREC saw the need for a 

public information booklct to convey this ncw and 

important information to thc public. 

Thc study involvcd a comparison of aerial 

photographs from the carll' 19805 to the early 

19905 for an area representing over 60 percent of 

the state. Of the four drainage basins in the state, 

all of the Piedmont and Inland Bays basins were 

e\-aluatcd, while 75 percent and 60 percent of the 

Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay basins were 

exammed, respcctwc!y. ThiS large ~sampJc" of wetl:l:lds was possible because the state recently com~ 

pl~tcd a detailed invcntory of wetlands at J :12,000 

br.sed on 1992 aerial photographs. llJese data 

were compared with 198J/82 aerial photos from 

the NVv'l"s original wetland inventory for 

Delaware to detennine wetland trends. Wetland 

uends were identified as going to (loss) or coming 

from (gain) a specific land use or land cover type. 

Major catcgories ofJand use and land cover were: 

1) industrial development, 2) commereial dcvelopment, 3) residential development, 4) highways 

and roads, 5) ponds, 6) uansitional land (land 

undergoing some tyI'C of development -

unknown use), 7) r.lilgc!and (open fields and 

thickets), 8) cropland, 9) pasnlre, and 10) upland 

forest. Wetland trends included changes from one 

wetland type to another caused by humaninduccd actio!l5, mainly timber harvest. Changcs 

as small as 0.1 acre were identified. 

Data on the current status of wetlands comes 

from DNREC's digital wethmd da!'.! - the most 

comprehensivc source available to date. These data 

provide readers with a statewide pcrspcctilfC on 

the abundance and current distribution of 

Delaware wetlands. 

Besides rhe wetland status and tre.nds informatiOn, thIS booklet proVIdes bnef deSCriptions of 

the state's major wetland types, a discussion of the 

fuolrc prospects for Dclaware wetlands, and a list 

of resource agencies and additional sources where 

readers can obtain more information about the 

state's wetlands and wetlands in gcneraL 
Introduction 

Most people an: now familiar with the word "wetlands· - the tenn used to describe: the collection 

of mushes, swamps, bogs, wet meadows, wet flatwoods, and other sclsonally wluerlogged environments. Wetlands arc b.nds that an: periodically 

flooded or satur,lIed ncar the surface for periods 

long enough to affect plam growth and soil de\"CIopmem. Scientists hal"C dctennined that the minimum wetness for a welland is S3ruration within 1 

foot of the ground ~u rfa(e for 2 wedu; or more 

during the growing season in most ycars (e\·cry 

other ycar on avcragc).2 These areas arc also we t 

for much of the non-growing season (from late fall 

to ellrly spring). These cvnditions create waterlogged soils and substrates that arc essentially 

devoid of oxygen tilr significant periods. 

stream systems (called "interflullcsM

) on the coastal 

plain. These are places subjected to frequent 

flooding or prolonged satur:uion associated with 

seasonal high water tables. 

\Vetlands are among the st.l.te's m05t valuable 

narural resources. They temporarily store surfa(e 

water thereby rt:ducing flood damage to homes, 

businesses, and cropbnd. Their soils and vegention hdp improve water quality by removing and 

reraining nutrients, processing chemical al'd 

organi( wa.stcs, and reducing sediment loads of 

adjacent waters. Vegetated wetlands provide valuable buffer strips along Streams lhat can significantly enhance local water quality as weU as scrling as travd corridors for resident wildlife. Their 

Pbllls colonizing such sites are cllned 

-hydruphytes· (water-loving plams) 

because they possess special adaptations 

th:u allow them to grow ani reproduce in 

oxygen-deficient (anaerobic) saturated 

soils. These wet soils arc called -hydric 

soils" and they exhibit unique characteristics reflecti\·e of prolongcd and frequent 

,m ~t"fohir mmlilino< ('nn<NJ" .. ntly, th .. 

presence of hydroph}1ic l'Cgetation and 

hydric soils are used as indicators of wetlands and for dclineatin¥ their boundari6. 

--

In Delaware, wetlands h:m: formed 

along the shores ofDclaware Bay,''arious 

rivers and streams, in depressions or 

basins (including ponds and impoundments), and on broad fl3\ areas between 

Soorrc· lin"'."" (;1,>,"""",,,,, -' 11 •• ",un" 

()9'1!) l"',h\"h<->lI .... I'.,~",01 ,\"J<m,· 1' ...... 

1\"")""f!;">n.IX· 21).11S 

~­n n ~­n n 

--T 

CO-UTAl I'lAlN 

HyJ)ltOGfOMOU'HIC 

RIOIONS 

• P-+t o.a...d lIpIond 

• Wool Ora,,*, l.Ipbod 

• s.,.1 ...... Con!i,*, 

. _c","""""',, • eoa"", WooIand "...; '-"-

"""-' ....... 

H,.m~_rphil 

"&iO"l rifnmud in 

JillrDms 

H'tlIDnJs dror/op whn'~ 

!,roundwDur di~hargN, 

surfau 'Will" lI(CumuJilIn, or in ar~IIS jlooJd 

by f;dts. Tbis mm-U(-

liflnlll dillgrllm shows 

!,rt)umfwatrr jlrrw paths 

l!wl mlllt '(Nt/and, af 

diffrTtM loraliom on IJx 

I"nd<rll/N (blue arrows 

- jlow Jurin!, -uxt "D-

,on .. "d (lrrQWS - jltI"fJJ 

Jurin!, dry Yllson: blllel 

arrows - !,nttTtJl palh 

o/l,'Q"nJw..l" jltI"fJJ) 

Sou=, ~I A. H.yn. 19% 

1)<1.0..- -w.J 16OUKn. 

I", N~ "<un s.,_-;r ." II""'''''~. u.s. {~-.1 Swwy. ~ 

\'A. w".r-Surrh" I'.p<> 

1425. pp.1~7-1S1. 
511/1 "'1mb (ISIIIII"''' 

'''''rg(~1 'W'11(l~d) 

dominoltd by $IIfl boy 

(ordgran, wilb higblid, Imsb In borkground. 

OaJ:-do",;nlllrJ /",lllsIrm, flult,d 'UNtfand 

an hnold fillt /'mdK"f>'. 

Nott b/Il(i'"ld Itol'lltS 

indi(("i .. ~ of pr%ng"/ 

inundation. 

, 

location between land and watcr also allows wetland vcgetation to stabilize shorelines, thereby 

reducing erosion. Coastal wctlamls are highly 

regarded as nursery grounds for estuarine fishes. 

r\inety-eight percent of Delaware's commercially 

inport'.I11t fishes arc wetland-dependent. ComIr.on estuarine fishes include American eel, 

alewife, American shad. menhaden, white catfish, 

channel catfish, white perch, striped bass, yellow 

pt:rch. sea trout, Atlantic croaker. and winter 

flounder. Nearly all freshwater fishes also depend 

on wetlands for food. nursery grounds. or spawnillg areas. Rccre:uional fishing produces about 520 

Il"illion annually in the srnte. Numerous wildlife 

species rely on wetlands including commercially 

important species like muskrat, game species 

including waterfowl, mmh rabbits, and deer. and 

non-game animals like frogs, turtles, salamanders, 

wading birds. shorebirds, and songbirds. Much of 

Delaware's rernaiuing inland wetlauds is forestland and may be of commercial importance to the 

forest products indusu),. Overall, wetlands yield 

a.:onOffilC values to many resldellts and offer aesthetic and recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. They do this 

while providing \~tal fish :md wildlife habitat and 

serving numerous other functions that benefit 

society. 
Delaware Wetland Types 

The majority of Delaware wedands fall into two 

gcncf1Il types: e:o;ruarinc: wetlands and palustrine 

wetlands. Estuarine wetlmds arc intertidal salt to 

brn~kj)h ""ViJUIlIII~nt~ including tidal marshes, 

mudflats. and sandy b~achcs associated with 

coasru cmbayments, ri\'tfS, and strcdms. Palustrine wetlands arc inland freshwater, W:lIcrlogged 

or flooded hahinus, mostly I'cgcmcd areas like 

marshes, wet meadows, swamps. ~nd wet flat· 

woods. but also including shallow ponds. Less 

common types in Dclawart an: marine wetlands 

(limited to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean; ocean 

beaches), riverine wetlands (within river channels 

and mostly in the intertidal zone of fw;hw:ucr 

rivers), lind lacustrine wetlands (the shallow water 

zone ofJakes, reservoirs, and deepwater impoundments), Brief descriptions of the major types arc 

gi\'en \)clow. For more de tailed char.lctcrizations 

of Delaware wetlands, see Wetlands 0/ lli/Il'WilU 

listed in the back of booklet (under Ad,/i/ionll/ 

Readings). Field guides for idcntif)·jng wetland 

pl:tnts are also listed theft. 

Estuarine Wetlands 

Esmarine wetlands arc coastal wetlands subjected 

to either daily or less frequent flooding by salt 

water tides. Most of these wetlands arc vegetated 

{typically by nonwoody plants}, while others uc 

non-vegetated. The vegerated ones ~ft commonly 

called "salt rnarshl'S" or "brackish marshes~ (technically called rSfIIllrinr rmrrgmr ~//and. when 

they arc characterized by herbaceous plants). 

These tidal wetl;Ulds are dominated by ~ha!ophytes- (salt-Im';ng plants). Non-vegetated estuarine wetlands include beaches along t::kbwrn: 

Bay and intertidal mud flats observed at low tide 

in coasllll emb3ymems and along tidal rivers. 

Sah rn:.lrshes occur in the more saline portions of esmarics (waterbodies where oce~n \vater 

mixes with fresh water). These marshes are most 

common along Dt:laware Bay. south of the Chc~a

peake and Delaware Can~l, where they form 

behind protective beaches. l\vo zones of vegetation may be observed in these marshes based on 

their elevation ~nd corre5ponding frequency and 

dunnion of flooding: 1) low marsh wne (or regularly flooded 7.one) and 2) high marsh wne (or 

irregularly flooded wne). The low marsh occurs 

below mean high tide and is flooded at least Of(C 

a dar- It is chancteritcd by a tall growth fonn of 

smooth oordgrnss which grows up to 6 feet or 

more in hei.!!:ht. Located above mean hi.!!:h tide, the 

high m~rsh is flooded less often (e.g., once every 

couple of weeks) and its vegetation patterns are 

more complex. The low lIlarsh may grade gendy 

B~(~;Jh mursh (tstuurInr rm"Fnl wrtkmd) 

In Ntw (Asllr Cvunty. 

N~rt prNnrt o/(omm~n 

"d, npmllily IlIDng 

trt(~ 6lmks. 
8rarl.isC ",,,rsI; ,,/t"'g Il 

,ribaillry a/tIN St.jalftJ 

Ri1.'~r. NaIr tKU""lfU 

0/ romm.If rad ""d 

""rrrro.rl,awd (a"ail 

IlIDlfgfoml dg •. 

• 

intO:l Mlower high marsh~ where smoOlh cordgrnss 

still predominatl'S bU! gro~ in a sNnted form 

(less than eighteen inches t'.lU) due to stress from 

IOrlg-terrn anaerobic conditions. The Muppcr high 

nURh" j, better dnined and supports a monic of 

hwphytic species including salt hay grass, salt or 

spike grass. common rttd. marsh orneh, sea lavender, salt marsh :mer, and hlack grass. Large stands 

of each of the first thrtt species are characteristic, 

with the first two sJ>Ccies often forming mi.1(ed 

.Is;ociations. Switchgross, a clump-forming grass. 

frequently dominates the upper border of salt 

IT\.;I.rshcs and may form grassy fields above the salt 

IT\.;I.rsh. Shrubs, such:ls high-tide bU5h, groondselbush, wax myrtle, and red ced:.tr, may be common 

along the uppermost edges of the salt marshes. 

Tie fonner tWO species may develop rather extensive shrub thickets in some places. 

Occurring further upstream along coastal 

riyers, brackisll marshes ue exposed 10 more \":lriaHe salinities, ranging from fresh in spring (due 10 

high ri\'er discharges) to moderately salty in summer (low river flows). In the more seaward brackish marshes, salt marsh species, such as common 

reed, smooth cordgrass, salt hay grass, spikc grASS, 

and switchgrass, begin to intermix with more 

br.lckish species like n:lrrow-lea\'ed Gumi], hiS 

oordgrnss, and rose mallow. Further upstream, 

sfccies with fn:shw:uer affinities including arrow 

arum, pic~relweed, sofl-Stemmed bulrush, spatterdock (yellow pond lily), and arrowheads may 

dominate . 

Palustrine Wetlands 

Freshwater marshes, sw:amps, and ponds represent 

Delaware's palustrine \\'ctlands. Some are tidally 

influenced (their wa ters rise and fall with the 

,ide,), hilt Ihey (l(""CIIT urstrcam of the area of saltwater pcncmtion. j\ lost of D elaware's palustrine 

wetlands are dominated by trees. Locally caUcd 

·swamps~ or Mwimer wet woods," these wetlands 

are seasonally flooded or saturated for variable 

periods. In contrast, marshes and wet meado~ 

arc characterized by herbaceous (nonwoody) 

plants, with marshes flooded for extensive periods 

and WCt meado~ typically possessing santrnted 

soils. PalUStrine "~nl.lcd wetlands ma), be separated into three major types based on their dominant vegetation: 1) emergen! wetlands (e.g., 

marshes and weI meadows) characterized by 

grosses, sedges, and other nonwoody plants, 2) 

scrub-shrub wetl:lnds rcprcscnud by low- to 

medium-height woody plants (less than 20 ft'et 

tall), and 3) forested .... tt1ands dominated by trees 

(woody plants 20 fect or t:iller). 

Thrc<' types of palustrine emergenl welb.nds 

arc common in Delaware: 1) tidal fresh marshes, 

2) nontidal marshes, ar.d 3) wet meadows. T idal 

fresh marshes lIre among the most diverse plant 

ullllllunilie~ found in the 5tate. Thes<: manhe, 

arc flooded daily due 10 tidal influence on river 

water. Common species include spatterdock. narrow-leaved eanail, rose mallow, bur-marigold, yellow flag, smartweeds, tearthumbs, wild rice. sweet 

£lag, arrowhead, water hemp, common reed, pick-
Sfightly bra(~ijh (Dfigohilf;n~) mar,h ~n flu Smyrnil Rit'(r. 

W" mrudow (ralJa""a) at Nllrldlbnry Po"d i" SUJ<~" Caill1ty. 

CyprIS! stwmp III Trun"m I'o"d. 

For{1({'i po/hoI_ 'W(tltJlui '" K(I1( CM"'}. 

DEL\WARE'S W ITlANDS: STAWS AND RECENT TR£NDS 5 
Palultrin( flmt,,' wrtland in 1M Pin/mont 

Jrllmllg( ""lin. 

• 

erdweoo, arrow arum, W'dler-willow, and ri\'er bulrush. Scattered trees and shrubs may grow in these 

marshes, with willows, buttonbush, swamp rme, 

red maple, and wax myrtle frequently occurring. 

Nontidal m:lC'Shes are flooded for extended periodr (U$u:.Uy a few month, or more) during Ihe 

rear. Typi~ plants include broad-leaved can;!;il, 

bur-reed, rice cutgnss, reed canary grass, sedges, 

;!;oo most of the other plants listed above for tidal 

fresh marshes. \\let meadows include wet fields 

and pasrures where the soils are sarurated near Ihe 

su:face for prolonged periods and mar be inundated for brief periods. Common species include 

so:t rush, reed canary grass. common reed, sed~, 

goldenrods, Joe-Pye-weeds. and asters. \Vet 

meadows may be dominated by a single species or 

by a diverse assemblage of plants. 

Palustrine scrub-shrub wedands (or shrub 

swamps) are wet thickets that may be seasonally 

flooded or saturated ncar the surface by seasonal 

high water tables. Common wetland shrubs 

include buttonbush, si l~l' dogwood, and smooth 

:l.lder, while saplings of red maple, ashes, and black 

willow are also representative. T idally flooded 

shrub swamps occur along coastal ri\'Crs (e.g., 

Spring Creek. i\lurderkill River, St. Jones River, 

Ctdar Creek. and Broadkill River). Although W:.LX 

myrtle and red mapk tend ro dominate tho:::;e 

s\N"amps, a di\'erse assemblage of other shrubs and 

httbacrous plants forms mixed communities. In 

nontidal areas, bunonbush is most abundant in 

nearly permanently flooded depressions (e.g., Delm:uva potholes), with other species being chanctcristic of periodica.lly flooded or sarurated serubshrub wellands. 

!\lost of Delaware', freshwater wetlands are 

paJuslrinc (oll'slC:d wet1.ands. They may be flooded by high tides (tidal swamps) or not (non tidal 

I>WlI.mps), The fOmu'r orrllr :>Inng "p!"" titlal 

reaches of the Nanficoke, Mispillion, alld Murderkill Ril'ers. for examrle. Green :ISh, red maple. 

and black gum ~ most abundant in these tidal 

swamps. Nontidal sw:urps may be dominated by 

evergnxn or deciduous trees including loblolly 

pine, pond pine, AtbnllC white cedar (less commonly), red maple. sweet gum, various oaks (water, 

willow. pin. basket, and swamp white), S\\o"CCI bay, 

and river birch. Shmbs often form a dense understory in many forested ... etlands. Cornmon shrubs 

include sweet pepperbush. highbush blueberry, 

winterberry, southern arrowwood, maleberry, ferterbush. Virginia sWcct-spire, swamp azalea, wax 

myrtle. and inkbcrry. Woody vines, such as common grecnbrier (forming virtually impenetrable 

thickets), poison ivy. and Japanese honeysuckle 

(carpeting the ground), Me characteristic of many 

swamps. Numerous forested wetlands. often called 

· wet flatwoods" or "winter wet woods,~ occupy 

broad flats on drainage divides ("interfluves"). 

F'Iatwoods are among the most-difficult-ro-recog-

,,;;u: w"tl.mJ •• ;III .. e they ate typioilly :lCasona.lly 

sarur,lIed (i.e., m~in y \\et during the winter and 

early growing season due to high water tables) and 

are chancterizcd by pbnts that occur in both wetlands and coastal plain uplands. 
Current Status of Wetlands 

Ne:rrly 30 percent of (he "f:ue is covered by wctlauds. with over 

350,000 acres ilwcntoried {see accompanying figure for general 

distribution of ~ves).J Enullrinc wcd:mds rep~nt about om:-

third oCtile state's wetlands, while palustrine wetlands encompass nearly all of the remainder. Over 75 n:m of Delaware's 

wctbnds are vegetated (i e., cmcrgellt. SCfllb-shrub, and forested t}1>es), 

Estuarine wetlands rredominate the coasr:r.l zone along the 

shores of Delaware nay where 69 percent of this type occurs. 

T wCnI),-ninc percellt of the csru:uine wetlands is associated 

with the Inland B:I}'s drainage basin, while the remaining 2 percent occurs in the PicdmJnt basin (northern Delaware). 

Palustrine wetlands abound in the central and southern 

parb of the state. Fifty-seven percent of thcs.c: wetlands occurs 

in the Chesapeake b~5in and 27 percent is found in the 

Delaware Bay dr.Lin:Lf,'C basin. Pothole-t}1)C depressional wetlands (e,g., Delmarva potholes) predomin:ltc along thc i\laryland oorder, with the highest conccntra tions found between 

Townscnd and Ilartl}'. floodphin-typc wctlands occur along 

mJjor ri\'crs, such as the Nanticokc River, and their tributaries. 

i\lany fanner floodplain wetlands ha\'c been dammed to form 

impoundmcnts of I1:lrious ~izes (e.g., Hav1:n Lake on thc 

i\ lispiUion Ri\'er, Collins Pond on the Nanticoke. Cubbage and 

Swiggens Ponds on C(dar Cre<::k, and Killen and Coursey 

Ponds on the i\lurdcrk.ill River). 

1 Tb. "WI ""'1'1""1 '" " ..... 1. 1'Il00 """'""" ....... 121.000 ""'" '" -.l.ond. ... 

U:IIA..J, .,.n.o..... .. (T'ntl IIIMI). TIw d~l"""'" ~ th .. aumbtr and tbr 

., ...... r_I"J"'f'nl ..... ) .. .......tyoo. b. tbr _Iwion ailMmrd....ww. and 

....... IL ..... .,J ..... t.u..hI .. M.upr<.J t.,. tbr NWI) and" """,h.....un- m,n"""", 

rrupp<DK .... " '" ,Iv .... , ... "'''W'''II tlt<on 

350.000 • ___ i'b~ 211 

. ( __ " ... U 

• r--t"', I 32,390 

~~ IIUIO 

1'aMo-_Noo~ 4,191 

• For""'!"""""'" 2U 

~-.... 053 

~ ............. 4.573 

t_1 353.171 An .. 

• 0.-. e..y 4J'lIIo 

. _ ...... 1"-

.~ ... ,- . ,...... 2'1. 

Ammu", bill"" 

DEL\WARt;'S Wrn ...... l'>I)s: STATlIS A:-<I) RF£fJIo"TTRL'IDS 7 
• 

Piedmont 

Drainage 

Basin 

, 

.'I.-~ \ L. 

/ l ..... ·~ ."'" I\. ...... _ • 

, 

Delaware Wetlands 

Estuarine Emergent Wetlands 

Estuarine Nonvegetated Wetlands 

_ Estuarine O ther Vegetated Wetlands 

_ Fresh Water 

_ Riverine Wetlands 

_ Palustrine Formed Wetlands 

_ Palustrine Forested Wetlands 

Palustrine Other Vegetated Wetlands 

_ SaltWater 

N 

E S 

5 0 5 10 Miles 

, 
~ g GI 

aim 

~ g c c ._ 0_ 

-~g 

g g '" 

.5CaI 

D ELAW!\R£'S W ETLANDS; STATIJS AND RECENT T RENDS 9 
Tbi, tim' " .. it, af Iltr';l1l 

P/x;!all/x;w' ,igmji(aTlI 

d<wlopmtnt af (Oallal 

'<Wt/Il,,,h in rhr Betbalt), 

Brath artll ".I'<Wtn 

1937 a/U/197J ultd 

v.-ry tiltl, tbang' l!irrrI1jtrr.ln 197J. the /fult 

muetrd 1M 'Wu/and, 

Art" !hlll reslri'I,d 

d,w/opmmt III I;du/ 

wrllam/;. 

1937 

" 

Forces Changing Wetlands 

Nnural processes and human actions affect werhinds in various ways. Changes in vegetation often 

rcmh from narura! events such as droughts, rising 

sea level, hurricanes, episodic flOC>ds, fire, and ani-

!1lll actions. Rising sea level also produces longterm chlnges in wetland hydrology and the extent 

of estuarine waten; and wetlands. Grazing by 

m~skrats and snow geese have a tremendous 

impact on the vegetation of many Delaware wetlands, especially tidal wetlands where large eat"out 

areas can be observed, 

People have had both positive and neg:uivc 

impacts on wetlands. UnfofiUllatcly, most human 

activities to date have caused wetland loss and 

degradation, For example, Delaware may have lost 

as much as 54 percent of its wetland. since the 

1 i80s . .f Iluman impacts to Delaware wetlands 

have included: 1) filling for commercial, industrial, and residemial development, 2) disposal of 

dredged material and [.Irbage (c.g., sanitary landtills), 3) dredging for navigation and marinas, 4) 

conversion to cropland orpasrure, 5) conversion of 

namral wetland forests to pinc plantations, 6) cre~ 

ation of diked impoundments for water supply 

and wildlife management, 7) pond construction, 

8) alterution of hydrology (e.g., drainage and 

chmnl"lizmion projects), 9) direct or indirect discharge of pollutants (e.g., oil, pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals, sediment, domestic 

sewage, and agriculrural wastes), and ]0) spreading invasi,'e and/or exotic species (e.g., common 

reed and Japanese honeysuckle), Since the 19705, 

government ha~ increased protection and manage~ 

ment of wetlands through state and federal laws. 

This has helped signi:icancly reduce human 

impacts. In addition, narural resource agencies 

havl" initiated wetland restoration programs that 

seck to improve the quahry of dcgrnded wetlands 

and to incr~ase wetland Kreagc (e.g., bring back 

lost wetlands and create new ones). 

4 DIDI, T.E. 1\190, w<tWxI J..oos..r in ,n. Unu<d g,.,,,. 1780. to I'ISO.. U.S, Dop"'m<o, of Int.,.",.., ~,,J, .. ><1 W;!Jlif< s",ffi«. W .. hing--

'on, DC. Rep"" '0 Conr;n:". 

1973 1992 
Statewide Wetland Trends 

\"Yetland tre:ods for Delaware: were determined by 

comparing aerial pholographs from two time 

periods: Arril 19811h1an:h 1982 and March 

1992. Trends were analyzed for thc states four 

major drainage b:uins: 1) Piedmont. 2) Delaware 

Bay. J) Chesapeake Bay, and 4) Inland Bays. A 

complete analysis for Ihc: Piedmont and Inland 

Bays basins was performed. while about 7S pcr~ 

cent of thc Ddawlu'c Bay dr:.l.inage area and 60 

percent of Ihe Chesapeake Bay basin were evaluated. For th~ latter basins, wetland trends were 

estimated from the dara collected,S The data prc5ent!;!a below art: for thc entire stale, with the 

dr.l;nagc basin results presented in thc foUowing 

section - Drainage Basin Summaries. 

Vegetated Wetland Changes 

Nearly 2,OCO acres of I'cgcrnted wetlands were 

destroyoo from 1981/2 to 1992.1\1051 of this loss 

involl'ed pahlstrine vegetated wetlands (Table I), 

with almost 1,900 acres of these wetlands eliminated. The main cause of wetland loss for the 

palustrine "egerated wetlands was agricultural 

activities which accoumed for half of their losses. 

Resickntial development also exacted a heavy toU 

on these wNlands. causing nearly 25 percem of 

the losses. Pond construction and highway/road 

projects affected nearly equal amounu of palustrine \'t'get:lled wetlands. with each being responsible for about 7 percent of the losses. 

Palustrine forested wetlands exfXrienced the 

gttatClit losses. About 1.500 acres were converted 

to nonwetlands. ponds, and fanned wetlands. 

Forested wetlands alone accounted for 76 percent 

of the tot:llloss of \'I;~getaled wetlands. Statewide 

losses of other palustrine vegetated wetlands were 

255 acres of palustrine scrub-shrub wedamls and 

129 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands. In all, 

palustrine \'~get:llcd wetlands comprised 95 pcr-

(en! of the R'cen! losses of Dclaw,\re's vegellltcd 

wetlands. 

Timber harvest of forested wetlands was significant, affecting nearly 3,500 acres. About 

2,050 acres of palustrine forested wctlands were 

harvested during the srudy decade. While these 

wetland, arc now emergenl or tcn,b Ihrob wet 

l.mds, the)' should eventually re\'ert to forested 

wetlands after a few decades.6 Other changes 

resulting frem previous timber (utS were: 1) about 

750 acres of palu5trine emergent wetlands 

became shrub wetlands, 2) roughly 300 acres of 

emergent wetlands became fOTCsted wetlands, 

and 3) over 350 acres of shrub wetlands became 

forcsted wetlands. Seventy-seven percent of these 

changes occurred in the Chesapeake Bay dl'.l.inage 

basin. 

About 106 acres of esruarine vc:geuted wetlands were \OSI. O\'Cr half of the losses were due 

to impoundments. mostly saltwater impoundments. Nearly a third of the losses were due to 

filled wetland for unknown purposes. while filling 

for highway/road projects and for residential 

development accounted for JUSt 11 acres of 

coastal marsh loss. 

Changes in Nonvegetated 

Wetlands 

Chan~ in pond acreage were the most dynamic, with J statewide net gain of 610 acres - 890 

new pond acres were established. while 280 acres 

of pre-existing ponds were destroyed. Conversion 

to land with unknown future use accounted for 

64 perce'lt of these pond losses. About half of the 

gain in pond acreage came from agrkulturalland, 

while 21 percent of the new ponds was built in 

former upland plant communities (e.g .. forests 

and mcadow'S) and 16 percent was constructed in 

wetland>. Forested wetlands were most affccted 

by pond construction with 95 acres of ponds (teated in this wetland type (amounts to 67 percent 

of the vegetatM W<'wnds con\'cned 10 ponds). 

Nearly 200 acres of tidal flaU were convened to a 

dredged ffi,uerial disposal site at the mouth of Ihe 

Christina River. This single action was responsible for \;rrually all of the csruarine nOn\'Cgelatc:d 

wetland loss during the sNdy period. 

WeIland imparts in Ih. 

DowrtlrrllinJ992. 

A,""," indiratr Km"al 

I1TtaS of fOIld constrU(-

lit", (A) I1nd midmlial 

dtwlcp'nmt (B) in 

jHlluttrlnt wtllantIJ plus 

f>i1nd rrralian in upland 

(C). 

5 Sc.: d'I< rq>Jr1 11,11 .. "" 

'f'tn,J, ;~ D<~. 

1981182101'1920-" .. " 

... oJ. I!l99J foo- dc!.ih on 

otudj nl<lhodo ..-..l 

.... , 6 I'WI:'''K P'''''' to...,.", 

pin< fWo- .. "'-

_drndo ..-..l """;"«1 

""' .... ,""""'5 ..... ~, 

pn<1i<n pmboI>Ir 

<I<p.do: "'" hobo ... q<WlOy <Ii ....... -w..d. for 

..a.rn. whrn ~ 

to IJUI'C drvnJ< fum .... 

.......... 
Table I. Statewide changes in vegetated wetlands (1981/2-1992) 

Wetland Change Caule Acreage At'feded 

htuorine Vegetcrt.d 

Goin from I'0I<0 ...... F~ WeIIo<d ,- (+11) " 

"' .. ESIuO/ine 1tnpouncI.....,1 .,9 

Trooullional tond .0 ......... '" '" f,nil_ Pond " "'" '''' H 

Highwoy/Rood S.S 

~ O .. elopme<,1 53 

C ........... cioI o....Iop..- 21 

Pokn.Iri ... e"""genI w.rIo'ld 

1n<Iu""'" D.,_~~ 09 " ,"'- [,-lOSS) 

Palustrine Vege tated 

Gain !.om Pond CoIonizollor! 348 

"""""' 20.3 

........ 10,6 

Pow,. 9S 

UpIond for.ol 

Fml'rl8d Wedaod " 

locu ........ o..,.w- " 

Sond/Gr.....,j Pit> " 1.3 

E • .I .. ,,,;,,,, w.riond 11 

Idle f~. 0.9 

T,oruilional !,g..o 02 

-.,., 1+89.6) 

lru, • ~~eIaIed' 9342 

Rtiidenliol Ca •• Iopo,_, 4.JSJ 

P""a C0II5In>dion 13.51 

Highway/Rood 12U 

.......... 88' 

lodu.lr;ol D.'~'I 49.8 

Tro""t;or,aIl.or.d 32.7 

Airpo<T 27.5 

Ri_l ... De.opwoIer Habilo1 14.9 

(""""""cioI ~ 11.0 

e ........ i ... o..pwo .... rnpruno:lm.on~ 59 

UpIond Forool (dro,ned) 

EoIvo<,,,,, E ...... ~I Wellard " 11 

Tronlf>O<l"lIon(Commun~ 0] 

- /:-1890.1) 

Typo Cho~ nmb. Ho.- 2035." 

f'otI.IImbet Ho"",,, St.ox-""' •• 1426.6 Po"'.",_ f""e>Iood ~ 10 lIalu.m ... 

f ...... ge.u WeIIood 1 .. < ....... ...., 101 

,- p02. 1) 

TOTAl Nt T CHANGE IN VfGE1A1ED WfTlAND _ _ 19049 {l0551 

" 
Drainage Basin Summaries 

The StaNS and n.!C<'nt trends of wetlands in Dclawal'("S four dr:inage basins follows. 

The m.NS dam come from the DNREC's wetland mapping program, while the 

mnds findings come the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 1999 study.7 

Piedmont Drainage Basin 

Wetlond Stows 

T he Pied mom dr:tinage basin in northern Debware occupies 9 

~rcrm of the state's land mass. \Vetlands are not particularly 

widespread in this arc:a of rolling hills and urban development. 

About 6.400 ;lcres of wetlands remain, representing 5 percent of 

the dr:tinage basin. 

Wetlond Trends 

D.lawo .. Orainoge Iolinl 

., .......... ~-

• a...w- 'or o.-..y. a..... 

o.-p...Ioo Soy ~ 8G~. 

~Soy.~-

From the 19SOS !O the 19905, Piedmont vcgetatcd wetlands experienced net los.es of nearly 140 acres. Palustrinc vegetated wetlands receivtd the greatest impact. Estuarine wetlands in the 

Piedmont basin were not significantly impacted by developmmt 

during the srudy decade. Only 0.7 acres of estuarine cmerg<'1u 

wetland were converted to industrial development and 0.5 acres 

of estuarine nonvegetated wetland bcc=te impounded estuarine 

deepwater tubitat. Dilly 9 acres of palustrine vegetated wetlands 

became est;ililished during the dec;lde - mostly the result of 

emergent plant ooloni1 .. :uion of ponds. 

Slmmuid( 'lJXt/,,,,J II/~,,! /fib;" CIIIY CrNi.. 

Palustrine forested wethlllds cxpc:rieneed the heaviest losses, 

with 110 :l1:rtS oon\'erted to dryland. These wetland los!es 

accounted for 75 percent of the tOlallossc:s of palustrine \·egetated wetlands. Nearly 26 aeres of palustrine scrub-shrub wetlands 

were lost. rnostl)' to residential development. About 10 acres of 

palustrine emergent wetlands were con\'erted to upland (8 aerts) 

or ponds (2 aeres). Two ael'('s of palustrine farmed wetland were 

converted 10 home sitts. 

Only It. acres of palustrine lorestcd wetlands were harvested 

for timber. This produced a I-acre g~in in palustrine emergmt 

wetland and a 13-acl'(' gain in palustrine scrub-shrub wetland clue 

to \'cgctltion chlnges. These changes art: successional stages of 

forested we tlands in I'arious states of recovery after timhcr harvcst. 

Pond acreage declined in the Piedmont drainage area. T his 

was the only drainage area in the state to experience a net loss in 

ponds. with a net loss of about 116 acres of ponds recorded. 

Despite the construction of nearly 66 aeres of new ponds, nea:-ly 

182 acres of pre-existing ponds were destroyed, producing the net 

loss of acreage during the 19805. t. lost (93%) of the gains came 

from upland sites. 1\lost of the losscs were due to filled land that 

was in a tnnsitional state (its intended usc could not be determined), I .. lIhough il is likely to be residential or industrial de\·e1-

opment. 

1 \\"<tlanJ ....... wu I'fO"IJcd Jno Hut 8MlJI< III July 2OOL, ..... b.nd Ir<"!Ids w .. fiuooI 

T_r <1..r. tm. U','-'IT....JJ '4 ~ IPII IIl,.l"l U.s. rooh....J 

WoIJhl< s..-n. L !..n.-.. ~tA. 

•. = 

w.oIond ....... _ 

~"'olII 

.(_~

.- ,,t06 

• ( __ tb, ; ' 110 

. _'oIogovIod 2ASI 

~", •• ' 6S6 

• foI._ f.....,..j 13 

• ._, .. ~b,.. I J "0 

• ._, .. II.,.-d 92 

. 1o< ........ l.O 

T_' wottlond. 6,3" ....... 

c... ....... ,""'u ...... "........,W ........ lo .. In .... _, __ ... olII 

(1.'1'''"'992) 

.1 ........... 1O% 

. ........... n. 

. ,.....c-..-"" 3'l1. 

.~c-..:-~ 

· """ ''I7 .... .. _C--..I 

DELA\\·AR!'.·S WE'T'U.NDS: STATUS AND REcENT TRL"DS 13 
Slim" Dlltig (11r.i~.nf in Q ImuJ,iJ, muM, 

W .......... oflft. ............. ....., 

Oro;"".g .... '" 

• !"""''"'' 

.. -~ 79.533 

150,000 

• I"""' .... " ,. rw' ',63' . ' ......... .9 90' ,.."._ ~Iooo ."...."", 2.056 

• "".,.F..,....j 6"'6 

100,000 

• t-.,.Noo a .... 1 7U 

• ___ v.g.o:.d 277 

• ,.."".., .. ........,.,... 1.99$ 

l_' _ ..... 150.1'" ....... 50,000 

c.u ... of _._ voogoetoMd _ ..... In .... ___ ....., 

DntInop ..... (1 "'12' 1992) 

• .......... 0 .......... J$% 

"e'''''''''''' 11 ... 

• MP01"'" I .... C""""""," 16"-

. ,.....eon ......... . % 

• """",oIlC_-.,od ~ , "-

• 0;,.. .% 

747 ....... C_......., 

(0 .. _ of 1'-;' Y--...I 

WofIco .... too. In .. o.ia_ ....., ......... ~ .... (1 ", / 2. 1992) 

2% 

• rollod 47% eon_ ..... "'I~Mo<oIo 1% 

• 0 ....... Con.~ 

.. 

, 

Delaware Bay Drainage Basin 

w ettand statu. 

The Delaware Bay dr:ainat,'e basin is the largest of the four major 

dramage$ in Delaware, occupying 40 percent of the state. Located 

on the eastern side of the st~te , it includes a mixture of urban/suburban areas, forests, and agricultural land. Wetlands encompass 

slightly more than 150,000 acres or 29 percent of the dtainage area. 

Wettand Trendl 8 

Fran 198112 to 1992, there was a net loss ofbOlh estuarine and 

palustrine vegetated wetlands (78 acres and 679 acra, rapecrivdy). 

Palustrine forested wetlands received the heaviest impacts, with 

444 acres eon,'ened to dryland or water (mostly pond.). Palustrine 

scrub-shmb wetlands were next (202 acres convened), followed by 

emergent wetbnds (101 aCre1i lost, mostly to cropland and pasture). 

Sixty-five acres of new emergent wetlands became established 

(mostly through pond colonization and re-est'Ablishrnent on farmland) for ~ net loss of only 37 acres in this type. Nearly 250 acres of 

palustrine vegetated wetlands changed type (e.g., fore~ted to emergent), mostly due ro forestry, with only 4 anes of forcHed wetlands 

com'Cned to emergent wetland due ro excavation. 

Palustrine farmed wedands experienced a net los$ of26 acres. 

T wrnty·eight acrt'S were co",'ertoo to uplands, ponds, or emergent 

wedands, while only 2 a~s of new farmed wetland~ werc established in former pastures, Fifty-three percent of the losses was due 

to pond construction, while 28 perc('nl w~s due In construction of 

farm buildings and 8 percem to residential development. 

Estuarine losses totaled 80 acres. Over half of these losses (or 

41 acres) we re :mributed to impoundment or excavation creating 

w,m:rbodies (deepwater habitats or ponds). The proposed use of 

mon of the 37 acres of filled estuarine manh could not be determir:ed,9 while about 6 acres were converted to roadW'.IYS. 

Ponds experienced a net increase of 215 acres, whereas estu;uinc tidal flatS had a net loss of O\'Cr 200 acra. While 88 acres of prec:risring ponds were ronverted to upland or \'egct'.ued wetlands, 303 

acn'S of ponds were built for a net gain. Of the pond acreage created, 36 perc<:nt c:Jme from cropland, while about 26 percent came 

from we tlands (mostly palustrine vegetated t)l)Cs). Of the lost pond 

acrtage, about h:llf was filled for various types of upland development. Nearly 37 pcn::em of the lost pond acreage became palustrine 

emugent wetlands due to sedimentation and subsequent colonizatiol" by emergent vegetation. Construction of a dredged material 

disposal site at the mouth of the Christina River eli:ninated 199 

acrn of tidal flats (10 acres represented by dikes and 189 acres contained the dredged material). About 3 acres of tidal flats became 

estuarine dccpwater habirat at the mouth of the ~ lispiUion River 

apprn:ntly due 10 Ilatural erosional forces. 

8 ~.<p<>'f<d tRod num"" ..... um" .. bao<d on :on <VJtIu .. _ of 7S 1"''''''' of tl>< buin . 

9 n.. GUO<"'" dw~n"od .. ' ... n"t.,...J land wl><re th, "od _ d."".bod.od .. 

")lit''''''' .. hoK "1"''' holds >t>d thNb thtcko .. o«upocd the fin . 
Chesapeake Bay Drainage Basin 

Wetland Status 

The ChesaIXake Bay drainage basin is located in the western part 

of Delaware and includes watersheds of rivers flowing westelly 

into Chesapeake Hay, especially the Nanticoke, Chester, and 

Choptank Rivers. It represents 35 percent of Delaware's land surface area and occupies a portion of the coastal plain where wetlands are quite abundant. \Vetlands occupy nearly 130,000 acres 

or 28 percem of the drainage basin. Floodplain wetlands arc common along \l"J.rious rivers and tribumry streams and an extraordinarily high number of very small isolated depressional wetlands 

called -Delmarva potholcs~ occur on broad interstteam divides. 

Wetland Trends10 

From 1981/2 to 1992, mere was a net loss of712 acres ofpalm;-

trine vegemted wetlands. An estimated 723 acres were converted 

to nonweclands or open water, while only 10 acres of new palustrine vegemttd wetlands became esmblished (mostly on agriculturallands). 

r-,'Iost of the palustrine vegetated wetland losses involv~d 

forested wetlands, with 701 acres destroyed. O"er 600 acres of 

forested wetlands were converted to agricultural uses, with 5&6 

acres becoming cropland (95% became farmed wetlands). The 

Chesapeake Bay drainage basin also had small net losses of otl:er 

vegetate<l wetlands (i.e .. a I-acre loss of emergenr wetlands and 

11 3~re loss of scrub-shrub wetlands). 

Forest!) pra~tices had a signific3m impact on wetlands in the 

Chesape3ke Bay basin, afK"Cting 2,721 a~rcs. Nearly 60 pcrcentof 

this acreage was represented by forested wetlands haf\'esttd 

between 1981/2 and 1992. Other former forested wetlands 

logged prior to the 19805 were also moving along the successional p3thway with 520 acres TCturning to forested wetlands by 1992, 

while others were in (arlie.r stages of recovery. 

During the study decade, there was a net increase of 212 

acres in ponds. About 63 percent of this gain came from af,'Ti culIUral bnds (e.g., cropland, pasture, ['mned wetbnd, and idle 

fields), wh;! ~ 27 pcrcem came from excaVlltions in transitional 

bnd and upland forest. Only 8 pcrcem of the new ponds came 

froUl p3lustrine I'egetated wetlands. 

10 R.I''''.d ,=>J numt.<r. >K .. Urn. '" haS<d on ~n <'-"'I.,.""" or 60 r"","n' ",II< basin. 

Anial phalo showing D,/marva }Xilhal' wtllands ("udium 10 

darlt. bill( ",prmionsj norlb'l1.!n1 oj Hartly. 

WeI\ond. of .... Ch. ... peok. ...., CI>rolnap .... in 

I""""" 

• PaIo •• i .. ~ 107.145 

• P ...... ine faonod 17,451 

~ 3,324 

f>_, .. 3 

E ............ Non"",,",,,"'" 2al 

P,,","ino~ 742 

l,_~ 561 

; __ "<go>o!Od 46 

I.oc:",,.,... Wdo.a. 141 

1_1 w.,II<ond. 121,127 Ac ... 

COlO ... of hl .. ,Mnoo 

v.g.taNd W ..... ncllD •• In .... 

Ch..,,,peok. ley l>foin09O 

..... n (1 911/2'1992) 

....,~ 14'% 

• lJoo:lt~ lipI<>nd :M:. 

• ClpenW_ 5% 

723 Ac ... C .... 

'''' ....-...d 

DELAWARE'S W l,LANDS: STATt)S AND R.i::CE"..\T TRENDS U 
w.tIa<>d. of the Inla<>d llay. D ... ln_lla.in .-

• Mal"" No. • .".1<>"'" 211 

• ~"""" ... ~ 13,616 

Inland Bays Drainage Basin 

Wetland Status 

The Inland Bays drainage basin, located in southeastern Delaware, represents 16 percent of the state's 

land surface area. T hree coastal bays dominate {he eastern portion of the basin - Indian River Bay, 

Rehoboth Bay, and Little Ass<lwoman Bay. The region contains a mixrure of urban-suburban- n:sort 

development along the coast, with forests and agricultural lands inland" hi~ drain<lge basin possesses 

about 68,(X)Q acres of wetlands which comprise 32 perrent of me watershed. 

Wetland Trends 

During the 1980s and carly 1990s, the Inland Bays drainage basin suffered net losses of both palustrine 

and estuarine ,'egetated wetlands. Most of the losses invoked palustrine types, especially :orested wetlands. Overall, there was a net loss of 271 acres of palustrine vegetated wetlands (277 acres lost versus 6 

acres gained). 

I-orested werhnds were most adversely affected, with 258 acres lost during the 19SOS. T his figure 

represents o'"er 90 percent of the palustrine vegetated wetland losses. Agriculture was the leading eause 

of forested wetland loss (125 acres), being responsible for 48 percent of the wtallosses. Residential 

development and pond constnlction well' also significant eamC1; of forested wetland loss. Small net losses of scrub-shrub wetlands were detITted. About 14 acres of these wetlands were converted to nonwetlands or ponds. Palustrine emergent wcdands experienced a net gain of 1 acre (with 10 acres created and 

9 acres destroyed) - this was the only vegetated wetland type to in("rea~ 11 

During the slIIdy decade, 484 acres of wetlands were impacted by forestry operations. Recently harvesrd forested wetlands totaled 325 acres. Mter timber CIItting, this 

'''''''' acreage became other wetland types (successional stages of forested 

wetlands): 47 percent became emergent w~t1ands and 53 percent 

b~can1e scrub-shrub we tlands by 1992. An additional 159 acres were 

• e""", ... Non_og.IOlOd 22,7 11 

affected by pre-1980 timber har .... est. (fanner forested wetlands On 

the post-har"Vest successional trajectory to become forested wetlands) 

• Palw. ... ~ 2',083 with 75 percent revening to forested wetlands during the 1980s. 

PaI.J ..... 737 

• Pokitlo_ Fon-.! S,l 28 

• ~,,..,., ... ~1ed 2 

• loc,"' .... WeIIo,... S" 

To.'" W ..... n ... 61,252 A, ... 

(a ..... of Pol ... ...... 

VoogeloMd W . .... nd ..... . 

m Ihe Inkmd llay. I!rol_ 1Ia.;n 

(1981/2· 19921 

• ~r!Ct.ft.. 41.,. 

• ~_""I o.~, 24% 

P<><><l~2O% 

• ~""Qda<od 6% 

.01h0r~ 2% 

277 ....... (",,--.I 

'''''''' 

.""'" 

o 

Palustrine farmed wetlands experienced a n~t gain of 50 acres. 

This was the result of an incrc;\Se of75 acres from convenion of palustrine forested wetlands combined with a loss of 25 acTCS. The losses 

were mainly attributed to residential dc,"elopmcnt (44%), pond construction (28%), feedlot constoletion (16%), and fann buildings (8%). 

Two types of estuarine vegetated wetlands experienced losses in 

the 1980s: emeTbTCnt wetlands and forested wetlands. The latter type 

repre,ents fo rmer freshwater wetlands that are now periodically 

inundated by tidal salt water. About 20 a(reS of estuarine emergent 

wetlands were destroyed. Fifty-seven percent of the acreage \vas 

either excaVAted (8 acres) or impounded (3 acres). Resideutial development was responsible for 27 percent of the emergent losses. During the 1980s. 6 acres of estuarine fo rested wetlands became intertidal fhts, presumably due to a combination of sea level rise and 

coastal plain subsidence. 

During the study decade, pond acreage increased by nearly 300 

acres in the Inland Bays drAinage basin. About 40 percent of the gain 

,vas from <lgricultural lands, with 23 percent alone coming from 

croplmd (excluding farmed wetland). Nineteen percen: of the gain 

came from palustrine vegetated wetlands. Only 10 acres of pre-existing ponds WCTI;! filled. 

II Exdud;ng ,ff",," .,( ".\her h ...... ' ,hi, cou.."J I<tI\~y ,h.ng<" ,n pun, """ro<,,;o.,. ~ ,lui """"'I; ..rr ..... ,«1 "",""d. <>uI<"' • 

shun·'<ml , ... -n:o>< in both p>1 ... " .. 'mngmr .nd """b· <Juu), _"""" - ",oceniorW !t.ga 01 /Om;t«l "",tlmds ""bet th.n !})"Cill 

~r or ,hn,b ,,~,I.nd, 

" 
Future of Delaware Wetlands 

Significant gains in wetland conscrv',\tion have 

been made since the early 1980s. The recent study 

of Delaware wetland trends dOC\lmcntcd an enormous drop in the annual [ass ralc of vcgt:t.\Icd 

wetlands wh n compared to an ~arlicr srudy; from 

about 1600 acres (1955- 1981)12 to about 190 

acres (198112- 1992). Estuarine vegcmcd V.'CIlands expericncro the greatest rWuClioll in losses. 

They arc now lost at a projected nue of about 10 

cres per yeu H~rsUS 149 ac~ (for 1955-1981). 

Although annual losses of palustrim: "eg<:t:l.ted 

wetlands r.::main much higher than losses of csruarine wctl:mds (i.c .• nearly 10 times that of estuarine vegetated wetlands), their loss role has also 

dropped precipitously since the ~arly 1980.. Palustrine \'Cgctalcd wetlands arc being lust at an estimated rate of 180 acres peT year (versus 1.459 

acres annua'ly from 1955- 1981). Pond acreage 

oolu inues 10 increase as before, although al a 

dighdy lower annual rale (6 1 acres \'ersU$ 80 acres 

for 1955-19131). 

Since 1973, con\'crsion of Delaware's tidal 

wetlands ha1 been regulated by DNREC in accordance with Delaware's "Wetlands Act: The 

rt'lmlts of the current srudy d(\{"umrnl Ihl' I'tTl'{"-

live ness of this eiTon in protec ting thcse wcd:lnds. 

Moreover, it nppenrs that the state is e10se to 

achieving no-net-loss of esruarine wetlands. 

Alterations of Delaware's nontidal wetlands 

are regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in ao;ordance with Sections 40-1 and 40 1 of 

the federal Clean Water Act. While losses of these 

wetbnds ha'll: ~n !,'l'Catly reduced by the Corps 

eiTon s during the 1980s and early 1990s, more 

action is required to gain no-net-loss starus for 

paluStrine vcgetated wetlands. 1\loroo\"cr, recent 

h~t\ges in iederal wetland tcb>tlbtions rcg-Jrding 

jurisdiction over isolated wetlands may place many 

of Delaware's palustrine wetlands, espcci~l1y the 

Delmarva pothol~, at ri,k. Additional efforts are 

needed to strengthen state and local controls to 

conserve these valuable wetlands. 

Wetland restotation ptogJ'llms may hold the 

Ire)' for achic\~ng me goal of no-net-loss of wetlands statemdc. Since 1992, numerous wetbnd 

restora tion projects have been unde rt:lken or are 

12 S,,,,,,·.,Tincr. R.W .ondJ-T F",nn 1~ SN'",~~' Ik,," Tn"", 

"II,,","J, ,. f',,~ ,1(oJ·If,"'.';' ~"' .... I),.""",,tt. M~,"~"". 

"'"","'~" ... /"''1'"'''- ~"" fI .. " 1·,'1,,, .... U.S Fi,h.nJ Wild!.f, 

s. .. ",., Nook.> .. Rt~"", .. ", U.S. (11"""",,,.,.,,,>1 J'rv<t<,,,,n 

Ait<"""·' Rt,:oun lit. Coopc,..,,..., I<1:hn".1 "1""'. (A,· .. I",*, from 

l'S '\\l ~ ...... Id.- "" "r1r ~_) 

planned that ~lIli kcly put this worthy goal within reach in the ncar future . .!\Iany agencies including DN REC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

the U.S.D.A. Natur,d Kesources Conservation 

SeTvice, ~n d county conservation districts arc 

working rooperativcly to increase wetland acreage 

and improve the quality or degraded wetlands. 

1\lany of these agencies provide COSI sharing funds 

for wetlard restoration and enhancement on priV3te lands. RestOl1ltion projects include re-establishing hydrology to losl or impaired wetlands and 

conuoUing: invasive species, especially common 

reed (PhTlJgmitu austrulis). 

Although the stAtus of wetlands has greatly 

improved during the la~t decade, readers should 

note that channelization and dr-a.inage still pose 

serious problems for palustrine vegetatcd wctlands 

in Dclawue. Many of the remaining wetlands in 

Delaware have been panly drained by ditches. 

Restoration effoTlS arc needed to impfO\'e the 

functions of these d:lInaged \«tlands and to reestablish the functions oflost wetlands. Although 

it was be:-'{md the scope of me current study to 

analyze the effects of ditching and channelization 

heynn,", tlleir direct effect (excavations and fills 

large enough to be delineated), a significant 

amount of ditching W:lS detected during the 

1981/2- 1992 period. [n most cases, it was not 

possible to determine the magnirude of the effect 

or such cLtching (i.e .. if a recently ditched palustrine forrsted wetland w:.lS effectively drained). 

Onsite investigations are usually required to make 

a morough assessment of the scope and eiTccti,·c-

' ...... I ~~ .!" I ; ,I, 

... ~/ I .' 

.~ t" " 

, .. ., . 

Cu,.,mu~ ,.,({/ «furs 

"'miry fl. uxII .. "dJ, hut 

if alsu ro!u"i= 

,bJlur"" S;tN jl"h IH 

IllndfiflJ 

Oi/fhm,: (Jill! rI}IJ"n~/­

izalion !",juts /xlIX 

drstfTJyd (IT" Ikgrtuktl 

"'I"'y fUrlllnJs. 

D ELAWARE'S W E"JV.KDS: STA11JS ANI) REn:s-r TRL"DS 17 
~. 

/IIllniJ '" Prr",~ II""'" 

NIl'i~nal lVild/~r( 

I<tJugr. 

1I0TTO.\1 

1I'tllallil rtJrorrdftam 

flrmrr mlp/and 

(2 _'II.m (JM). 

" 

IlCO» of dr ... inagc. Eff rt ~ arc now being made 10 

reduce the adverse impacts of agriculTUral and 

public drainage projects on 

wetlandl (e.g., mini-

mizing dearing widths and compensation for 

un:IVoidablc losses of W(!dands). 

vVc!lands arc the vital link between land and 

waler resources - a critical resoon:c for all 

Dclaw:rrcans. Wetlands help prescr\'~ the quality 

of drinking and rccrc:.uional Wolters and prOiecl 

property from damaging floods, wh-lc providing 

unique habirats for a di\"crse assembbgc of fl

ora 

and fauna. Delaware may have lost 4O-S0 percent of its original wetland acrcagc,ll making the 

remaining wetlands even more: valuable. We need 

to work towards prescrving wetlands and their 

functions and, wherever possible. restoring wet

-

b.nds, streams, and theiT bufl~rs. ThCS4: goals 

require cooperation be[Wccn go\'crnment, the 

business community, and 

pri\"lfC landowners. By 

working together to oonscn'e and restore wet

-

b.nds, Delawareans will continue to enjoy and rt-ap 

the benefits from the state'S wetlands and future 

l'CSidents will receive a priceless inhentance of this 

watery wealth. 

1J Dahl. TK 1m. Rtpo,' '" C..I"'''' fj"I~.J t..", ,. ,., V.II<1( 

S,"''' 17f1Oo '" Hro.. U,S lIqw1n><nl ufln,,,,, ... \\ ..... ,,'1>'''''. 

DC 
Wetland Resource Guide 

ADDITIONAL READINGS 

To It>m more .bout ",,,,land$, vi." )'011' Io<-aI 

rommunll)' (It rolkgc l,bnry.nd ch«k out ,ho: 

(ollow1O)I: 

A P"IJ G""Jr t. (:.,.n,.u n"I~nJ Pt.",,, oj fix 

N",,/NaJun U,.,,~J St~u, (1987) by R. Ti ... ,_ 

Uni'''f1'iry .. fl\h5S>oChu~n. fusI,l'O. Box 

19. Amhc 'S., MA 01004; 413-545-2219. 

(guide to «>:b.a) nu",h pl:mt i.dcnlif"'~lion) 

(;)"",[1<"'''' .. of "'//;"'';, ."J D«pu"'" J /iIIti,,", 

-rIM U'II"J S'tfW ( 1979) by L~\I, COWlro,n. 

V Carl ••• rc. Colt" .nd E.T. L..Roo:. U.S. 

Bill .nd WilJlifc .5<'" .... , Waslml\l:'OII, DC. 

I"',~ on wo;b n: wt,Ii",Js..jws..",,·, AI", 

.. ~I. from: U.S. eo,.'.".",]",n. l'nn'IIIl'1 

Off,o:, SUI""lIltrn<itm ofDocumcnu. "hil 

S"'r SSO!!. '.,hin~I"", DC 20402-9328; 

2Ol·SI2-0000. (t«hnk".aI well.nd d_,fic-.-

,ion OOcun'l<'nl FWSlOBS-i9IJl) 

FII/J GUlli, If N.""da/ }j/,,~.i /Jmltfi{~li ... 

(I9S8) by R. Tiner, f'qI.inlcd by th.lml;"". 

for WcwRd & E.wi",m"cmaJ Ed"" .. >oo 6: 

R...,.."h. 1'0. Box 2118. U>'al:tt. MA 01054; 

4!3-HS-8M6 (guodcn..ok f.,.- i<kn"fnng 

welbnd pl""I' .nd I,,~I,,( soJ in Northe'!I) 

Pi"J f~ti"atm4IiyJ'" &,/J m tht U""d SM" 

(1998) Iw C,w. Ilun, P.M. Whuw, """ R.~~ 

Pringje.:U.s.D.A. r.:.tu.>l R.-..rttJ Con"".-

vation Serv,ce, \\'.II,nd In<nru .. , Room I().I, 

Stu!,)!;i! I bll, Loui,i~n~ SUI. Univ.,..i,y, 

B"on Rou~ •• LA 70803; 225-388, 1337. 

(,rehniol,",lId. for IIkmiry.;og h,·Jrie ooib) 

11,,~Jkdf'" lIitlandJ CQ~I'""'tio" anJ S"!t"'~­

Qh,lit~ (I '1Y~) h}' K. F !",hock. L. Groll, J. 

Middleton. K. Sl>rinch.k •• nd C. Willi.m .. 

S • ..., Our SUnm$ I"rognm. huk W.ollon 

uaguc of Amenn. 101 Con$C""11OO L.ne, 

G:lilhrrsbUfl';.MD 20818-198J; 8OO-HUGIWLt\. (rtrilen" guotk to I'rot«:I"'~. tJ:$'Ot· 

in!,:,.nd """'It""inll wed.mk) 

f~ s.-.ml"fS,"","'pIa~J. If JI~I"'"j &1If'r~ ""j 

jo .. ,.IJCw" .... (I99S ) b) \I., Tiner. RUI~'" Un,· 

,·."it)' I ..... " P.O, Bo~ S062. New llrun<w,dc. 

NJ 0890,1; 712-445- 1970, (bypc"""', guide 

to wetl.nd ..:oIogy .nd i<knnr.o.1OO of .. etI.nd pionI' • .."I ••• nd .nllnol.) 

ManoK,ng 0,"''''0'' RuJ (Ph'dg""'" au",,,/;I) ,n 

M""",h~,,/tl (1998\ br R. Tinu. U.S, F .. h 

..00 \VtIJli/e s.,,, ..... 300 \\'es.,,:u. Ca" " 

Om..,. 11>dk,'. 1\11\ 01035; -1\3·253·861/0. 

(in,rud""I<.'n· '0 rol1l'''I'ochniquts) 

Ow. Naliondl Wul.m.i 11<"tlld!:': If f'rol(o:IiM Gu,d, 

(19%) Iw J Ku,k, and T Oph(im, Environmenullo'" In,,,rute. 11>16 r SUft' t\'\V. 

Suile1OO, Wa,hlll~on, DC 1OO3b; 202-939· 

J8OO, (ptid' 10 woll. tld pro'«lion ,,,,,cglc. lOr Ioo.llI"'lClIlmen") SI~It"W,J< nfll""'" .II"Pftng Pn!i«J-tht SII\lP 

(u..J.;.tro) bo. L T I\>mwo.Jr.. I)daWHc 

l.kp.",ne"i nfN>lur.ol ,Rcsourc.~ ."d En~i 

"",m.n .. 1 ConIf"1. Di,"\S,nn of\V"o. Raw.,,,.. 89 Kin" HIW. .... ~~', Dov ... ,DE 

19901. (~p'" "" fla'. wetland !'I\.I1'!"ng) 

lIilM"J In""~I'Jn.· A Oa,'/, t. U'fl~",( Mmlifi'''- II.". Drlinwi.". CI""ificulion. a",1 MappinK 

(1m) by 1<.. Tinc., Lewis Publi,hers. eRC 

1'resI, lOOO C""l"''""'' IIouknrd KW. Boat 

11..:""". FL 33231; 5/01-994-0555. (Iatbook 

wIth ... dep.h .. ,'"'" ofh, ... 1 'OJl'n) 

IItll"II<I, (19'9") by W Ni.ring, Nat.onal 

Audubon Soci«)' N.ru~ Gu.o.. Alfrfd ,\ 

Knopr. Inc .. N ..... York. NY. (IfItroductoon \0 

wctl.nd, .nd field !t'Jid •• o rl~nfi .nd .mm.!5; natioruJ fOC\t.) 

1I ~IJ.ofhb (2000) by W (,I"",h and J Goosclink. 

John Wiky and So<.. Inc., New '00.. NY 

1015S-0011; 212·SSO-60II, ('''''Ibook 0" 

wetland ""ology) 

tl/~"J~ Ch<lfrltur'lllro ond BOII"J",in (19'15) by 

Comm,".., on C .... rxtrrin'ion ofWctbnd .. 

N>I",,,01 Acade".,y Press. 2102 Constttution 

A"e,mc N\\'. sl"n~lon. DC 20-1 18; SOO-

/024·/02"2. (",fortner book on ...."Iond <kiln· 

.. 1100 and ~bted ICp;cs) 

JI~llantiJ f{ Ddlm"''' (1 t8S) by R. Tinn, 

Delaw",e ])'1"""""" ofN .. u ... 1 Rc.outtt. 

.nd Environmcm:ol Control, \Vc,bnd! Soclion. 89 King> Highw.ly, Dover. DE 19901; 

302·739-4691. (tummoryof .. etbnels informat"'" fOf 'he 51"0) 

1111/'",JT,.",J, in [PI"...,,, .. 19811210 1991 

om) by R. Ti ....... Swo.ds. :and S_ Sch:olk., 

U.S. Fish and ;ldlif~ s.,Mo~, 1'.cok>gi<:a1 

S~"1cn, Region 5, j(l() Wosl~~'e C<1lter 

D.ive, llodky. MA J\035; 413-253-86 16, 

(Iochnical rq><>" on .We ....,aI.nd trends) 

lVi,,117" O~uk I. II""'" fJ.o"" of JIIIJ.ofhb ""J 

TIvr, B..,kn..· NOr/hi",,,", U"ttrJ SI,,'n 

(1997) by II.. Tiner, ;"'tilUlo for Wetl.nd 6: 

Environmen'al Ed" .. non & Re"" •• ch, 1'.0, 

Box 288. LcvtrtIC.MA 01054, ~13 ·5 -1S 

8866. w.iJo 10 winttr pbm oden.i(rol.liotl) 

WETlAND CONTACTS 

For :adJiuonol ,nform.I"" on Well,,>!!.. also (00-

Ixl the: folk>wing ~ncon: 

Wetlond Regulclfion ond Policies 

Debw.", Dep:utmen, Ii N,runl Rcsou"''' .n<l 

En,~ron ..... n'" Coo"'Ol 

We~l:and, and Sub.oc\teou, und. S="", 

89 King.llighw •. v, i""'e •. J)~; 19901, 

302·739-4691. 102-739-S0n (enfn"'ern<m) 

........... tim", <f"U, J, .... 

U.S. ,Umv COtpS of Er6ti....,...I)(w .. Offl« 

1103 tol~e l'uk 1)",-., SUlle 102. 

Qo...e •• DE 1'J9O.I; 302-13/0-9763 

U,S, Envit'OftlMnull'n:cttlion A~ncy 

Wealand. :and W ••• ",·., ... ~ 111 

11>50 Arth Strtt •• I",ibJc:lphi., PA 19103; 

800"831-7828 ( .. elb"d hoth"e) 

W'!lNJ7".[II'f-' 

U.S. Ikp;mmeot of Al(ArulfIIK 

N.tural Rnource!t (oo...,. .. noo Sen...,., 

1203 Cnllege l' •• k 1).".." S",.eIOI.I)(n"tr. 

DE 199Q.1;302 ·678·4 Io(1 

""""', tr""...J" l"" 

Wetlond Restorotion 

U.S. Fi5h .nd Wildlif( S''''iC( 

PO"""" for Fi,h .nd \Vtldhf. Chu.pc:.Ju B.y t~",.d Off", 

177 ,\dmini Cochr.ne Dn'''. 

Annapoli., /\II) 214JI; 410·51.1-4500 

U.S. F,sh.nd Wildlife S."""" 

DebWH. B.v UIUi"y Pro~:u"" 

2/010 Wru!eh:oll Ned: Road. 

Smyrru. DE 19977; 302-1>5.1·9152 

De!. ....... Depanmcnl of N.rural RnouttflS 

Wat.rshed SKrion 

89 Kings Hi"hw.oy, rx,..., •• DE 19901~ 

302-139-45':10 

wetlond Maps 

Dela,....", JkpHtmem ofNnu,"" Rtmun:eIand 

Environm.nt.1 C .... urol 

Wed.nd. Section 

89 Kings Hi~hw.oy.l)Q,ocr, DE 19901: 

302-139-4691 

'lUWW.J"="'~tr,tk ... , 

~ ... ld A. Donovan ~;",es, Inc. 

429 South eo...,rnors '\"(nut, 

I)OW:., DE I99().I; lO2·61 .... !9O.J 

U.S ;oh and Wildlife S.""I<e 

N .. ionol Wotbnd. 1",'.nIOl)' Home p.~~ 

INlt/ AxIl .. nd,jwJ.l"" 

for .M wetlands in!cn<"'" ... ~. 

Wetlond Publiconons ond Related 

Information 

Debw.l'" Dcp>ru ... nt of N~IUr.L Rcsoufttl and 

t:nvironmentol Con'roI 

W~tbn<k s..:""" 

S'I Kings I !tKhW"~y, l)oo.·u. DE 1'J901 

302-7394691 {fOf j1~tl,,~ti, t/Dtl ...... rtl 

302-739-"506 (for DelawauC.,.,.........ttonisl 

1\h ll"".ine) 

"",""",tinT«, ,Ia fr. tit. UJ 

U,S. F"h .nd Wildllf. Se,,;,. 

EroIogi<:aI Senicco (NWI) 

300 W .. tplC Cen ... on,,,, llodlcy,MA 010)5, 413 25) 8616 

htlf:llwtl/~ntls.fo>J.t:"" or 

htl!:!I"", l!Jn,,1 ft."-X""" 

EPA Wetland ProIcction HOlltn. 

I 800-832 ·1828 

!Jltf:l/WW'IJJ.'/"l·F'YOlYOll'ANtla",'" 

wtlli""html 

Other Wetlond Infomlotion and 

Support Orgonizonon. 

I)el .... "'''' I)o:porl",cnt of N.",raI RC$QtJttcs ""d 

En'~rt>nn"lCntol Conrml 

89 Kings 11~w.ly. rx,...,r, DE 19901; 

302-139-5297 (Fish .nd Wildlife) 

302-1>53·2883 (Adop,-.· Wecl~nd Prognrnl 

Delaw>" EstuarY I'mgram 

1211 Chcotnu. 5,,,,,,1. Su". "00. 

Ph,l.ddrhi •. I'A 19107, 800-445·493S 

wwr;.J.ti,/.p.",& 

1)O:1.w.Ir1: Coopt .. ""e Exl.nsion 

J02 --ISI-2506 (New Cank Coun!y) 

302-697-..000 {Kenl Coun!)'1 

302-85/0-7303 (5".""" Coun!}') 

LXbw.l'" N.ru .. Society 

t\shhnd N.IUK Cen .... 

1'.0, Box 700, I lockeosin, D[ 19707, 

302-239-233" 

Ahbou Mill N .. u .. Center 

RD -I Box 207, Milford. DE 19%3; 

JO.H21-lJlj41 

Th. NOfIIK COIl.erw."')' 

Uni ... ",,!)' Offic. Pbz., New.rk. DE 19171; 

302-399·414-1 

Ducks Unlim"w De~ 

Sm. Ch:linnan - FA Cbr\ 

RD 5 Box 21CCC, Se.fo.d, DE 19'973; 

302-(,29-8835