Broadkill River
679516
139782356
2007-06-21T23:40:55Z
D6
75561
fix lk
{{Geobox River
<!-- *** Name section *** -->
| name = Broadkill River
| native_name =
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
<!-- *** Map section *** -->
| image = Broadkill River.jpg
| image_size = 280
| image_caption = The Broadkill River in [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]] in 2006
| image_first =
<!-- *** Country etc. *** -->
| country = United States
| country1 =
| state = Delaware
| state1 =
| region =
| region1 =
| city =
| city1 =
<!-- *** Geography *** -->
| length =
| length_imperial = 13.3
| length_note =<ref name=Ches>{{cite web |url=http://estuariesandcoasts.org/cdrom/CPSC1973_14_1_28_40.pdf | title=The Hydrography of the Broadkill River Estuary, Delaware | author = DeWitt, Piet | coauthors = Daiber, Franklin C. | work = Chesapeake Science, Vol. 14 No. 1 | year=1973 | month=March | accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>
| watershed =
| watershed_imperial = 110
| watershed_note =<ref name=Ches/>
| discharge_location =
| discharge_average =
| discharge_average_imperial =
| discharge_max =
| discharge_max_imperial =
| discharge_min =
| discharge_min_imperial =
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1_average =
| discharge1_average_imperial =
<!-- *** Source *** -->
| source_name = Wagamons Pond
| source_location = [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]]
| source_location_note =
| source_region =
| source_country =
| source_country1 =
| source_lat_d = 38
| source_lat_m = 46
| source_lat_s = 37
| source_lat_NS = N
| source_long_d = 75
| source_long_m = 18
| source_long_s = 47
| source_long_EW = W
| source_coordinates_note =<ref name=GNIS>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|213715}} |title=GNIS entry for Broadkill River (Feature ID #213715)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>
| source_elevation =
| source_elevation_imperial =
| source_elevation_note =
| source_length =
| source_length_imperial =
| source1_name =
| source_meet =
<!-- *** Mouth *** -->
| mouth_name = Delaware Bay
| mouth_location = northwest of [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]]
| mouth_location_note =
| mouth_country =
| mouth_region =
| mouth_country1 =
| mouth_elevation =
| mouth_elevation_imperial = 3
| mouth_elevation_note =<ref name=GNIS/>
| mouth_lat_d = 38
| mouth_lat_m = 47
| mouth_lat_s = 25
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 75
| mouth_long_m = 09
| mouth_long_s = 44
| mouth_long_EW = W
| mouth_coordinates_note =<ref name=GNIS/>
<!-- *** Tributaries *** -->
| tributary_left =
| tributary_left1 =
| tributary_right =
| tributary_right1 =
<!-- *** Map section *** -->
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_first =
}}
The '''Broadkill River''' is a river flowing to [[Delaware Bay]] in southern [[Delaware]] in the [[United States]]. It is 13.3 miles (21 km) long and drains an area of 110 square miles (285 km²) on the [[Atlantic Coastal Plain]].
The Broadkill flows for its entire length in eastern [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex County]]. It issues from Wagamons Pond in the town of [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]]; the pond is fed by two tributaries known as Ingram Branch<ref>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|214147}} |title=GNIS entry for Ingram Branch (Feature ID #214147)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> and Pemberton Branch.<ref>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|214434}} |title=GNIS entry for Pemberton Branch (Feature ID #214434)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> From Milton, the Broadkill River flows generally eastwardly, passing through [[wetland]]s and [[salt marsh]]es in the [[Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook/ |title=Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge |author= United States Fish and Wildlife Service |authorlink= United States Fish and Wildlife Service |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> After approaching to within one quarter mile (0.5 km) of Delaware Bay, the river parallels the shoreline a short distance inland for approximately two miles (3 km) before flowing into the bay, approximately one mile (1.6 km) northwest of [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]]. The [[United States Coast Guard]] maintains a station near the mouth of the Broadkill. The mouth is connected to [[Rehoboth Bay]] by the [[Lewes and Rehoboth Canal]], which forms part of the [[Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (2004). ''Maryland Delaware Atlas & Gazetteer''. pp.44-45. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-279-X.</ref>
In the 19th century the river was the center of a regional [[shipbuilding]] industry, arising from the access it furnished to inland forests; the industry fell into decline in the 1890s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/markers/sc/SHIPBUILDING%20ON%20THE%20BROADKILL%20SC%20143.shtml |title= Shipbuilding on the Broadkill |author=State of Delaware |authorlink=Delaware |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>
A footpath known as the Governors Walk follows the Broadkill in central Milton. [[The Nature Conservancy]] established a preserve along the river downstream of Milton in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destateparks.com/greenway/traillist/traillist3.htm |title= Greenways & Trails |author= State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Division of Parks and Recreation |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> [[As of 2005]], an annual canoe and kayak race was being held on the river in Milton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miltonde.com/milton/festivals.html |title= Milton Fairs and Festivals |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>
==Variant names and spellings==
The [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] issued an opinion clarifying "Broadkill River" as the stream's name in 1961. According to the [[Geographic Names Information System]], it has also been known historically as:<ref name=GNIS/>
*Broad Creek
*Broad [[Kill (body of water)|Kill]]
*Broad Kill Creek
*Broadkill Creek
*Broadkiln Creek
*Lewis Creek
==See also==
*[[List of Delaware rivers]]
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>
{{Delaware}}
[[Category:Rivers of Delaware]]
[[Category:Sussex County, Delaware]]