Watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay
Bohemia Creek | Broad Creek | C&D Canal West | Chester River | Choptank River | Deep Creek | Elk River | Gravelly Branch | Gum Branch | Marshyhope Creek | Nanticoke River | Perch Creek | Pocomoke River | Sassafras River | Wicomico River
The Deep Creek Watershed is part of the Nanticoke River Basin.
Deep Creek Watershed supports extensive submerged aquatic vegetation beds that are used for fish spawning, cover, and nursery areas for fish like sunfish. Siltation caused by shoreline development and destruction of shoreline buffers is a major destructive factor, killing submerged aquatic vegetation beds and smothering egg masses that are within the beds. This type of alteration would severely affect shellfish, plant, and fish species by direct take, and by alteration of spawning, nursery, and feeding habitat.
Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and bacteria are issues within the Deep Creek Watershed.
The nonpoint source nitrogen load from the TMDL of the Deep Creek Watershed are to be reduced by 30% and the phosphorus loads are to be reduced by 50%. Also, the nonpoint source bacteria load from the TMDL of the Deep Creek watershed are to be reduced by 3%.
EPA established a Total Maximum Daily Load for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This TMDL requires reductions of approximately 24% for nitrogen and 20% for phosphorus between 2009 and 2025 from all of the Chesapeake watersheds within Delaware. Sediment loads from Delaware's portion of the Chesapeake must remain at 2009 levels under this TMDL.
The nonpoint source nitrogen load from the TMDL of the Deep Creek Watershed are to be reduced by 30% and the phosphorus loads are to be reduced by 50%. Also, the nonpoint source bacteria load from the TMDL of the Deep Creek watershed are to be reduced by 3%.
EPA established a Total Maximum Daily Load for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This TMDL requires reductions of approximately 24% for nitrogen and 20% for phosphorus between 2009 and 2025 from all of the Chesapeake watersheds within Delaware. Sediment loads from Delaware's portion of the Chesapeake must remain at 2009 levels under this TMDL.
The Deep Creek Watershed has three sites listed in the Site Investigation and Restoration Section database. These three sites have undergone a preliminary assessment / site inspection (PA/SI).
Each of the sites is sampled through the program listed above for a consistent suite of environmental contaminants. These contaminants are broadly classified as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Metals as listed using USEPA and DNREC defined standards. When sites are adjacent to water bodies sediment samples are collected to assess potential impact from a site on the health of the waters.
If you would like to view reports for any of the sites in the SIRS program please follow the link the DNREC Environmental Navigator to search by map for the Deep Creek Watershed.
Each of the sites is sampled through the program listed above for a consistent suite of environmental contaminants. These contaminants are broadly classified as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Metals as listed using USEPA and DNREC defined standards. When sites are adjacent to water bodies sediment samples are collected to assess potential impact from a site on the health of the waters.
If you would like to view reports for any of the sites in the SIRS program please follow the link the DNREC Environmental Navigator to search by map for the Deep Creek Watershed.
Total Assessment Report of Delaware's Chesapeake Basin
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Analysis for Chesapeake Bay Drainage Basin, Delaware: Chester River, Choptank, Marshyhope Creek, Nanticoke River, Gum Branch, Gravelly Branch, Deep Creek, Broad Creek and Pocomoke River Watersheds
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis for Tributaries and Ponds of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek, Delaware
Delaware's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP)
U.S. EPAs Chesapeake Bay TMDL documents
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Analysis for Chesapeake Bay Drainage Basin, Delaware: Chester River, Choptank, Marshyhope Creek, Nanticoke River, Gum Branch, Gravelly Branch, Deep Creek, Broad Creek and Pocomoke River Watersheds
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis for Tributaries and Ponds of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek, Delaware
Delaware's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP)
U.S. EPAs Chesapeake Bay TMDL documents