Brandywine Mid-Sized Streams

Mid-sized streams are wider and deeper than headwater streams, which results in less shading from riparian trees and more sunlight hitting the water.

The teal lines depict mid-sized streams in the Brandywine River watershed. Mid-sized streams are 3rd and 4th order streams.

Stream Order	Length (mi)	Count of Segments	% Length
1	148	182	60
2	44	67	18
3	25	42	10
4	15	39	6
5	12	23	5
6	1	1	<1

How many mid-sized stream miles are there? What percent of total stream miles in the watershed do mid-sized streams account for?

View the Brandywine headwaters, mid-sized streams, and the river »

Sources: Maps from Google Earth. Illustrations from Emma Skurnick. Interactive map co-produced by UNC-TV’s QUEST and Stroud Water Research Center.
Credits: David Arscott, Heather Brooks, Susan Gill, Lucy Laffitte. Full credits