Jump to main content.


Assessment Data for the State of Delaware Year 2004

National Assessment Database
About this Database

Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

The 2004 National Assessment
Database
(Fact Sheet)

Previous National Water Quality Reports



State of Delaware websites:

No State 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report is available.
  State Water Quality Program

Search for a Waterbody within Delaware

Enter Waterbody Name:

Total Assessed Waters for the State of Delaware

Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 2,479.42 2,953.90 29.54 25.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in DE 2,509.00 2,954.00 448.50 25.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 98.82 100.00 6.59 100.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of Delaware by Watershed (8 Digit USGS Cataloging Unit)

Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
8-digit HUC Name Not Reported 15.64 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BRANDYWINE-CHRISTINA 433.06 725.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BROADKILL-SMYRNA 618.67 1,112.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHESTER-SASSAFRAS 110.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHINCOTEAGUE 371.39 331.00 29.54 25.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHOPTANK 160.54 60.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NANTICOKE 740.30 724.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POCOMOKE 59.32 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00


Delaware Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY 1,928.07 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
COLD WATER FISH 66.60 80.78 .00 19.22 color.gifcolor.gif
FISH, AQUATIC LIFE, AND WILDLIFE 2,479.42 34.47 .00 65.53 color.gifcolor.gif
HARVESTABLE SHELLFISH WATERS 5.20 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY 2,448.74 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 2,475.03 4.95 .00 95.05 color.gifcolor.gif
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY 204.50 97.07 .00 2.93 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 2,475.03 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
WATERS OF EXCEPTIONAL RECREATIONAL OR ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 881.05 .11 .00 99.89 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 2,479.42 miles of rivers and streams, or 98.82% of 2,509.00 total miles.

Delaware Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 30.30 1.22
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 2,449.12 98.78
Total Miles Assessed 2,479.42 100.00

Delaware Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 PATHOGENS 1,026.92
2 NUTRIENTS 134.08
3 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 87.68
4 PRIORITY ORGANICS 65.10
5 METALS 39.40
6 AMMONIA (UN-IONIZED) 21.30
7 PESTICIDES 12.80
8 IMPAIRMENT UNKNOWN 6.90

Delaware Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 984.03
2 NATURAL SOURCES 423.51
3 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 304.07
4 LAND DISPOSAL 213.44
5 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 198.24
6 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 118.42
7 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 104.99
8 SOURCE UNKNOWN 52.30
9 HAZARDOUS WASTE 10.00
10 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 9.30

Delaware Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY 2,764.60 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
FISH, AQUATIC LIFE, AND WILDLIFE 2,953.90 75.84 .00 24.16 color.gifcolor.gif
INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY 2,953.90 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
NONDEGRADATION 33.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 2,953.90 31.88 .00 68.12 color.gifcolor.gif
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY 295.60 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 2,953.90 68.61 .00 31.39 color.gifcolor.gif
WATERS OF EXCEPTIONAL RECREATIONAL OR ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 757.80 33.87 .00 66.13 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 2,953.90 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 100.00% of 2,954.00 total acres.

Delaware Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 729.40 24.69
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 2,224.50 75.31
Total Acres Assessed 2,953.90 100.00

Delaware Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 PATHOGENS 803.90
2 PRIORITY ORGANICS 157.80
3 NUTRIENTS 150.00

Delaware Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 652.60
2 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 407.90
3 NATURAL SOURCES 272.40
4 SOURCE UNKNOWN 157.80
5 AUCTION BARNS 88.00
6 LAND DISPOSAL 88.00
7 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 88.00

Delaware Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Square Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
FISH, AQUATIC LIFE, AND WILDLIFE 28.95 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
HARVESTABLE SHELLFISH WATERS 14.54 4.06 .00 95.94 color.gifcolor.gif
INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY 28.95 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 29.54 40.62 .00 59.38 color.gifcolor.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 28.95 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
WATERS OF EXCEPTIONAL RECREATIONAL OR ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 29.54 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 29.54 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 6.59% of 448.50 total square miles.

Delaware Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 29.54 100.00
Total Square Miles Assessed 29.54 100.00

Delaware Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 28.00
2 NUTRIENTS 28.00
3 PATHOGENS 25.00
4 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 12.00

Delaware Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 25.00
2 LAND DISPOSAL 13.00
3 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 13.00
4 AGRICULTURE 12.00
5 SOURCE UNKNOWN 3.00
6 NATURAL SOURCES 3.00

Delaware Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Coastal Shorelines

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
FISH, AQUATIC LIFE, AND WILDLIFE 25.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY 25.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
NONDEGRADATION 25.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
PRIMARY CONTACT RECREATION 25.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION 25.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
The state assessed 25.00 miles of coastal shorelines, or 100.00% of 25.00 total miles.

Delaware Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Coastal Shorelines

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 25.00 100.00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired .00 .00
Total Miles Assessed 25.00 100.00

Delaware Top Causes of Impairments
for Coastal Shorelines

No Causes of Impairment Reported.

Delaware Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Coastal Shorelines

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 25.00

Delaware

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
AMMONIA (UN-IONIZED) 21.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPAIRMENT UNKNOWN 6.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS 39.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 134.08 150.00 28.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 87.68 .00 28.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PATHOGENS 1,026.92 803.90 25.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 12.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 65.10 157.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) .00 .00 12.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Delaware

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
AGRICULTURE 984.03 652.60 12.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AUCTION BARNS .00 88.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 9.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONSTRUCTION 8.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HAZARDOUS WASTE 10.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 104.99 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LAND DISPOSAL 213.44 88.00 13.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 118.42 .00 25.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NATURAL SOURCES 423.51 272.40 3.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 198.24 88.00 13.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SITE CLEARANCE (LAND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT) 8.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 52.30 157.80 3.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 304.07 407.90 .00 25.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Clicking anywhere on this state map will take you to the Enviromapper for Water website, where you can view and map various types of environmental information for the state. This information includes Superfund sites, water discharge permits, toxic releases, and more.


Jump to main content.