Taylor’s Gut
Site Description
- State: Delaware
- County: Kent
- Ownership: State
Impoundments
- Taylor’s Gut: 131 acres
Ecology and Management
Taylor’s Gut is a freshwater impoundment located just north of Bombay Hook NWR in central Delaware. Ownership is mixed between private landowners and the Delaware Division of Fish of Wildlife (Woodland Beach State Wildlife Area). The site is managed primarily to support waterfowl in winter and shorebirds during the spring. According to eBird, 215 species have been observed at the site.
Vulnerability
Taylor’s Gut has experienced repeated damage from coastal storms and the dike surrounding the water control structure has been severely eroded. The state will be replacing the water control structure to enhance the resilience of this site to the impacts of climate change.
Human Value
There is no visitor use data for Taylor’s Gut, but the Delaware Fish and Wildlife owned Aquatic Resource Education Center borders the site and a provides environmental education opportunities for students and teachers.
Literature Resources
- Chan, S., and S. Shulte. A Plan for Monitoring Shorebirds During the Non-breeding Season in Bird Monitoring Region Delaware – BCR 30. Manomet, Massachusetts: Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; 2003.
- Lunt, D. C. 1986. Taylors Gut: In the Delaware State. Middle Atlantic Press, Wilmington, Delaware.
- Philipp, K. R. 2005. History of Delaware and New Jersey salt marsh restoration sites. Ecological Engineering 25:214-230.
- Sussex Bird Club. Birding the Delaware Coast: Pickering Beach to Woodland Beach. Delaware: Sussex Bird Club; Undated.