The Murderkill River watershed, in southeastern Kent County, encompasses 68,000 acres, a little more than half of which is farmland.

From its headwaters near Felton, the river flows generally eastward for about 20 miles to its mouth at Bowers Beach on the Delaware Bay. Coursey Pond and Killens Pond are important parts of the Murderkill system, which includes other ponds as well.

Water quality in the Murderkill River system is impaired by excess nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), bacteria and low-dissolved oxygen.

The main sources of pollution are cropland fertilizers, animal-raising operations and septic systems, which are are the predominant method of waste disposal in the Murderkill watershed.

In addition to nonpoint-source pollution, the alteration of physical habitat degrades water quality in the Murderkill watershed. The main concern is channelization, a common practice to promote drainage that supports both agricultural and land development.