Wicomico River (Maryland eastern shore) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wicomico River
The Wicomico River, looking towards Whitehaven from the ferry slip at the opposite bank.
Map of the rivers of the Eastern Shore of Maryland with the Wicomico and its watershed highlighted.
Native name	Wicko mekee
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Cities	Salisbury, Whitehaven
Physical characteristics
Main source	Delmar, Maryland
River mouth	Chesapeake Bay Mount Vernon, Maryland
Length	24.4 mi (39.3 km)
Basin features
Tributaries	Left: Beaverdam Creek, Wicomico Creek Right: Wood Creek, Rockawalking Creek

The Wicomico River is a river in Maryland, USA. It is about 24.4-mile-long (39.3 km). The river flows into the Chesapeake Bay. It helps drain an area of wetlands and farms on the Delmarva Peninsula.

The river starts in northern Wicomico County. This is very close to the Delaware state line. It flows generally southwest through the city of Salisbury. The river then reaches Monie Bay on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay. This area is near Mt. Vernon and Waterview. The last 20 miles (32 km) of the river are affected by tides. This part is called a tidal estuary.

Fun on the Wicomico River

The Wicomico River is a calm and gentle river. It is a great place for many fun activities.

• You can go canoeing or kayaking.
• It's also popular for fishing and crabbing.
• The river's smooth surface makes it perfect for water sports. These include wakeboarding and water skiing.

The city of Salisbury has been an important shipping point for many years. Barges use the river to move goods across the Delmarva Peninsula. Two special cable ferries help people cross the river. These ferries are located at Whitehaven and Upper Ferry.

What Does "Wicomico" Mean?

The name Wicomico comes from the Nanticoke people. They are a group of Native Americans. The words wicko mekee mean "a place where houses are built." This name likely refers to a Native American village that was once on the river's banks. There is another river with the same name. It is the Wicomico River that flows into the Potomac River in Maryland.

Keeping the River Healthy

A group called the Wicomico Creekwatchers helps keep the river clean. Since 2002, they have been testing the water quality. They check the water at 22 different spots along the river. The City of Salisbury works with this group. They also help by providing money for their work.

In 2017, the Creekwatchers shared their report for 2016. It showed that the water quality had gone down a bit. There were higher levels of things like phosphorus, nitrogen, and bacteria in the water. This means it's important to keep working to protect the river.

Rivers and Ponds that Feed the Wicomico

Many smaller streams and ponds flow into the Wicomico River. These are called tributaries. They help fill the river with water.

• Beaverdam Creek
• Colbourne Mill Pond
• Johnson Pond
• Parker Pond
• Rockawalkin Creek
• Schumaker Pond
• Shiles Creek
• Tony Tank Pond
• Wicomico Creek