DELMARVA - The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released a new report card on the health of wetlands in the Delaware and Maryland parts of the Pocomoke watershed. The wetlands earned an overall grade of A-, the highest rating for any Delaware watershed assessed so far by DNREC.
The report was created by DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program and covers a 215-square-mile area. It includes five sub-watersheds in Sussex County that extend into Maryland. In the summer of 2022, DNREC scientists collected data from 54 random wetland sites, looking at plant life, hydrology, and disturbances around the wetland edges.
The wetlands were found to be in excellent condition, but scientists did find some stressors. These included tree harvesting, invasive plant species, stream or ditch channelization, and mowing. The report also noted that 27% of the land area in the Pocomoke watershed is currently covered by wetlands.
Freshwater assessments were done using the Delaware Rapid Assessment Procedure:
- 29 flat wetlands received a grade of B
- 9 riverine wetlands got an A-
- 16 depression wetlands earned an A+
DERAP uses a data method called the Value-Added Assessment Protocol, which was developed by DNREC scientists and is available to both professionals and the public.
Tidal wetlands were not assessed because there are very few in the watershed, and some were either hard to reach or misclassified. The watershed also includes Category One wetlands, which are unique freshwater wetlands found in Delaware.
DNREC’s full report includes information on how wetland areas have changed in recent decades, the value wetlands provide to the ecosystem, and how land use changes may affect them. A separate, public-friendly report card was also made to summarize the findings and offer tips on how to help protect local wetlands. These include keeping space around wetlands, repairing damaged areas, and educating the public.