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15-493: The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve consists of two unique components, one on Blackbird Creek ( 39°23′47″N 75°37′04″W  /  39.396275°N 75.617824°W  / 39.396275; -75.617824 ) and the other on the St. Jones River ( 39°05′33″N 75°26′44″W  /  39.092466°N 75.445433°W  / 39.092466; -75.445433 ). Freshwater wetlands , ponds and forest lands dominate

30-496: A meandering course. The northerly branch is contained within Blackbird State Forest , while the southerly branch arises in a swampy wooded buffer in farmland. Both branches join just upstream of Blackbird Pond, which is southwest of the village of Blackbird, Delaware . Just downstream of Blackbird Pond and upstream of US 13, Barlow Branch enters from the left (north). Downstream of US 13 , Sandom Branch enters from

45-430: A recycling center, restoration demonstration areas as well as a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities for the community, teachers, students, and families. The Center also supports ongoing research and monitoring, field studies, citizen monitoring programs, and training opportunities for coastal decision makers. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

60-596: Is located in the High Coastal Plain that originates from glacial outwash of continental deposits (Columbia Formation). The headwaters of Blackbird Creek are located in an area of undrained depression deposits of the Columbia Formation. The northeasterly course of Blackbird Creek takes it through the Lynch Heights Formation, Scotts Corners Formation, and into marsh deposits forming steep valleys along

75-478: Is occupied by agricultural uses (predominantly soybeans , corn , and wheat ); 15.1% is residential; 9.9% is wetland ; and 8.8% is forested . In 2004, a non-profit group, The Appoquinimink River Association, was founded with a mission to protect the water and natural resources in the region surrounding the Appoquinimink River. The United States Board on Geographic Names issued a decision clarifying

90-506: Is protected as part of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve , along with portions of the lower Appoquinimink. Blackbird State Forest covers large areas of the headwaters. One small village, Blackbird, is located totally within the watershed, while the city of Townsend is on the northern edge. Blackbird Pond, a former millpond, is the only dam present on Blackbird Creek. The damming of this creek

105-642: The NOAA . Blackbird Creek Blackbird Creek Reserve is on the Delaware Bayshore Byway and includes trails, pavilion and canoe/kayak launch. The reserve boasts several miles of trails through uplands and along the marsh, restoration demonstration areas as well as a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities for the community, teachers, students, and families. Blackbird Creek rises in two branches both north and south of Dexter Corners in southern New Castle County, Delaware and flows generally northeast in

120-519: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . It collects three named tributaries along its course: From the north, Deep Creek, 4.2 miles (6.8 km) long (also known historically as the "North Appoquinimink River" ); and Drawyers Creek, 8.2 miles (13.2 km) long; and from the south, Hangmans Run. According to 2002 data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency , 54.9% of the Appoquinimink River watershed

135-689: The Blackbird Creek component. The St. Jones component is dominated by salt marsh and open water habitats of the Delaware Bay . The reserve monitors long-term changes in weather and aquatic conditions in the estuary . The reserve’s research and monitoring programs address key management issues, such as biodiversity and the impacts of land use on estuarine habitats, ecological impacts on horseshoe crab populations from migratory shorebirds , beach replenishment activities in relation to habitat preservation/ reclamation, and eutrophication and contaminants in

150-525: The estuary. The St. Jones Center for Estuarine Studies offers a wide variety of educational programs about the reserve for the general public, school groups, private and nonprofit organizations, educators and coastal decision makers. Coastal decision-maker workshops have included such topics as land-use planning and smart growth , energy resource conservation and development for the next decade and acoustical bay bottom mapping. Visitor can explore hands-on interactive activities and exhibits including fish tanks,

165-422: The northern end of Delaware Bay, approximately 3 miles (5 km) east of Odessa. In its upper course the river passes through two man-made lakes, Wiggins Mill Pond and Noxontown Lake; the river is tidal to the dam at Noxontown Lake, and salinity from Delaware Bay typically affects the lowermost 5 miles (8 km) of the river. The lower 7 miles (11 km) of the river are considered to be navigable by

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180-417: The right (south) and a little further downstream, Blackbird Creek becomes subject to tidal influence and widens considerably. Upstream of Blackbird Landing Road, Herring Run enters from the left (north) in an area of freshwater tidal marsh. Downstream of Blackbird Landing Road, another tributary, Beaver Branch, enters from the left (north). Near the mouth of Blackbird Creek, three tidal tributaries enter from

195-664: The right (south) and include Fishing Creek, Mill Creek, and Gravel Gut. The mouth of Blackbird Creek is located at the north end of Delaware Bay approximately 0.25 miles (0.40 km) south of the mouth of the Appoquinimink River and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Taylors Bridge . Blackbird Creek watershed is largely forested and rural. Near its mouth, it is surrounded by extensive salt marshes , with extensive populations of saltmarsh cordgrass ( Spartina alterniflora ) and common reed ( Phragmites australis ). The lower river upstream from Delaware State Highway 9

210-636: The way. Appoquinimink River The Appoquinimink River is a river flowing to Delaware Bay in northern Delaware in the United States . The river is 15.3 miles (24.6 km) long and drains an area of 47 square miles (120 km ) on the Atlantic Coastal Plain . The Appoquinimink flows for its entire length in southern New Castle County . It rises approximately 2 miles (3 km) west of Townsend and flows generally eastwardly, south of Middletown and past Odessa , to its mouth at

225-588: Was the subject of the 1829 Supreme Court case that gave rise to the theory of the Dormant Commerce Clause . The Blackbird Creek watershed is a focus area in Delaware for “Delmarva Bays”, which are undrained depression deposits that may or may not have a sandy rim. These “bays” have fluctuating hydrology that provide breeding sites for amphibians and habitat for a number of rare plants. Larger versions are generally called “ Carolina Bays .” Blackbird Creek

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