DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship invites the public to vote on finalists in the first Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest by visiting www.delawarewatersheds.org. The contest aims to share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything happening on land within the state’s watersheds also directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is all of the land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. The contest was open to all photographers, with images from any of Delaware’s watersheds accepted as entries. Judges were looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s landscapes, waterscapes, native plants, and native wildlife.

Contestants entered photographs in three categories:

• Natural Landscapes and Waterscapes of Delaware – Photographs of any waterbodies such as streams, rivers, lakes, creeks, estuaries, bay, ocean, etc. or scenic landscapes in Delaware.
• Native Wildlife of Delaware — pictures of native animals, birds, fish, insects, and amphibians.
• Native Plants of Delaware – photos of native plants in any setting.

Online votes must be cast by Sunday, July 8. Contest judges determined the photographs that moved on to the online voting phase of the photo contest. Public voting will determine the top finalists in each category. Photography by contest finalists will be on display at the 2018 Delaware State Fair, and will be voted on by fairgoers to determine first, second and third-place winners. The three winners in each category will receive a DNREC Delaware State Parks annual pass for 2019. First-place winners in each category also will be recognized at the annual DNREC Awards ceremony on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair in July. Winning photographs also will appear in a future issue of Outdoor Delaware magazine.

For more information, please contact Phil Miller at phillip.miller@delaware.gov or 302-290-3578.

CONTACT: Philip Miller, Conservation Programs Section, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-290-3578.

Vol. 48, No. 174

Reminder for the week: Have a safe holiday weekend on Delaware waterways

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between June 18-24 made 3,198 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 37 citations. Officers responded to 52 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On June 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, Sgt. Chillas and K-9 River visited the Harrington Police Department’s Youth Academy and gave a K-9 demonstration.
• On June 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions with a Brandywine Creek State Park summer camp. The campers were then taken on a police boat ride in the C&D Canal.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incident of note:

• On June 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested an individual for one count each of leaving the scene of a property collision accident, fail to drive at speed appropriate for conditions, failure to have required insurance, operating a motor vehicle off of an established roadway on a state wildlife area, and three counts of possession of undersized blue crab. The arrest followed an investigation into a vehicle accident that occurred June 13, in the Assawoman Wildlife Area near Frankford. The individual was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and released on $450 unsecured bond and $200 secured bond pending a future court date.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (3), trespass to fish (1), possession of undersized blue crab (3), over the limit recreational crab pots (1), possession of tautog during a closed season (1), and possession of undersized summer flounder (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: No life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (4), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), operating a personal watercraft without a life jacket (1), no throwable life preserver aboard as required for vessels 16 feet long or longer (1), unregistered vessel (2), and failure to report a boating accident within 24 hours (1).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana (1), leaving the scene of a property collision accident (1), failure to drive at speed appropriate for conditions (1), and failure to have required insurance (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (9)*, operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2), and destruction of state property (1).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?
With many boaters heading out on the water for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that drinking and boating don’t mix – and that boat operators found to have blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher will face charges for operating a vessel under the influence as well as putting themselves, their passengers and other boaters at risk.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers will also be out on the water, increasing their presence for Operation Dry Water, an annual nationwide enforcement and education campaign aimed at preventing alcohol and drug-related boating accidents and fatalities. For more information on Operation Dry Water visit, this press release.

Other tips for recreational boaters to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend include:

• Exercise patience and courtesy at crowded boat ramps and docks.
• Observe all Slow No Wake areas.
• Maintain a lookout for other vessels and keep a safe distance away.
• Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, including congested areas.
• Make sure children 12 and younger are wearing life jackets while underway as required by law.
• Check navigation lights and make sure to turn them on when operating at night.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

To report boating violations please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Lt. John McDerby 302-354-1386, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 302-739-9913

Cements $4.2 billion state budget with $49 million supplemental appropriation for one-time bonuses

 

DOVER, Del. – On Thursday, Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 235 – the Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriation Act. This budget, which received final passage by the General Assembly this week, provides a balanced $4.2 billion financial plan that makes investments in Delaware’s economy, workforce and public schools.

The supplemental budget, Senate Bill 236, passed today in the Delaware House, appropriates funds to provide a $500 one-time salary supplement to full-time and part-time employees, as well as supplements to pensioners and one-time funded priority projects.

“When we presented our budget proposal in January, we were focused on making responsible decisions, using one-time revenue for one-time investments, and helping keep our state competitive. The budget I signed today accomplishes those goals,” said Governor Carney. “This is a responsible budget that will invest in our highest-needs schools, and help us recruit and retain teachers where they’re needed most. We are making new investments to confront the opioid crisis, and giving state employees a well-deserved raise. I want to thank members of the Joint Finance Committee and the entire General Assembly for their efficient work on this budget, and for making responsible decisions that will help us continue to address our long-term, structural challenges.”

“This year’s budget process was unlike any other in my 42 years in government and should serve as an example for subsequent General Assemblies,” said Harris McDowell, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee. “The surplus has been headline news since late last year – and rightly so – but this year was also defined by a spirit of cooperation and an attention to detail that should make all Delawareans proud. Thanks to the diligent work of the Joint Finance Committee, we completed this budget in record time and passed a final version that faithfully mirrors the priorities and values of this state. It is responsible, sensible, and fair and I want to once again thank my colleagues on the Joint Finance Committee, co-chair Melanie George Smith, and all of our elected officials that worked so hard to get us across the finish line today.”

“My colleagues on the Joint Finance Committee worked hard in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that we used the taxpayers’ dollars in a fiscally responsible way,” said Representative Melanie George Smith, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee. “We have been able to meet our core obligations and provide vital services that Delawareans rely on, while restoring funding we were forced to cut in more difficult years and putting funds in reserve for future years. This spending plan is a testament to responsible budgeting.”

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Highlights of the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget:

 

RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

• Limits operating budget growth to 3.99%
• Sets aside over $46 million by only appropriating 97% of available revenue
• Funds long-term liabilities such as pensions and debt service
• Funds “door openers” such as:
  • $20.9 million for school enrollment growth
  • $8.8 million for quality child care for more children
  • $3.0 million to ensure fair elections
• Generates over $5 million in savings in areas such as energy, fleet services and restructuring of the Department of Education

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BETTER SCHOOLS FOR ALL DELAWARE CHILDREN

Investing in Educators 

•  $10.2 million for annual salary step, plus a 2% general salary increase for educators statewide

Investing in Early Education

•  $3.8 million to fund growth in Delaware’s early learning centers through the STARS program

Investing in High-Needs Schools

• $6.0 million to expand the Opportunity Grants program, with targeted investments into schools with high percentages of students at the poverty level and/or English Language Learners (ELL) students

Investing in the City of Wilmington

• $1.5 million for the Christina School District schools located in the City of Wilmington

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INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE

Investing in State Workers and Educators:

• $1,000 annual raise for state workers
• 2% raise for teachers statewide, on top of annual step increases
• $500 one-time bonus for all state employees
• $400 one-time supplement for all retirees

High Needs Area – Public Safety:

• Funding for second year of correctional officer raises to $43,000 starting salary
• $3.6 million for implementation of correctional officer career ladder
• $2.3 million to fund implementation of the Department of Correction Independent Review recommendations
• Establishment of a dedicated Special Operations Response Team (SORT) unit in the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

High Needs Area – Children’s Services:

• $4.2 million to add 30 new casework staff and contractual support in the Division of Family Services to bolster child welfare, abuse and neglect hotline investigations
• $2.0 million to add 29 new staff members in the Division of Youth Rehabilitative services to meet staffing needs in six secure facilities, and reduce mandatory overtime

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A HEALTHIER DELAWARE

Investments toward improving Delawareans’ health:

• $1.4 million to expand substance abuse treatment
• $3 million to implement recommendations of the Behavioral Health Consortium Report
• $4.6 million for contractual increases for provider partners providing services to those with disabilities
• $285,000 to expand resources for substance-exposed infants
• $2.0 million in prescription assistance for Delaware seniors and $850,000 to support Senior Nutrition Services

 

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock on Thursday issued the following statements on completion of the federal review of a deal to expand the Port of Wilmington, done by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a panel comprised of military, homeland security, and federal law enforcement officials, among others. The CFIUS review found that the port agreement is “not a covered transaction,” reflecting the consensus of front-line agencies charged with ensuring the protection and security of the United States. No further review is required.

“This is a significant step forward in finalizing our agreement with Gulftainer, which will protect and create good-paying, blue collar jobs at one of Delaware’s most important employment centers,” said Governor John Carney. “This expansion will result in significant new investment at the Port of Wilmington, and help stabilize families and communities that rely on those jobs. I want to thank members of the General Assembly again for their support of this agreement, and their partnership in our efforts to strengthen Delaware’s economy.”

“The more than a dozen federal agencies that make up CFIUS have completed their review of our plans to grant Gulftainer a concession to operate the Port of Wilmington and greatly expand its capacity and capabilities over the coming years,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, Chairman of the Diamond State Port Corporation. “As a result, the specifics of the concession agreement are ‘not a covered transaction’ under section 721 of the Defense Production Act and there is no need for further review. This is the best response we could have received and clears the way for us to finalize our contract with Gulftainer over the summer.”

In March, Governor Carney announced the agreement with Gulftainer to lease the Port of Wilmington from the State, construct a new container shipping facility on the Delaware River, and significantly expand jobs at the Port over the next decade. Under terms of the agreement, Gulftainer’s subsidiary GT USA would make annual royalty payments to the State of Delaware reaching an estimated $13 million over the next decade. The company also would agree to invest more than $580 million in the Port over the next nine years, including approximately $410 million for a new container facility at DuPont’s former Edgemoor site, which was acquired by the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) in 2016. Final terms of the agreement are currently under review by the DSPC Board of Directors.

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Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on General Assembly Approval of Port of Wilmington Expansion
Governor Carney’s Statement on Bond Bill Committee Approval of Port of Wilmington Transaction
Governor Carney’s Statement on Diamond State Port Corporation Board Approval of Gulftainer Agreement
Governor Carney Announces Preliminary Agreement with Gulftainer to Expand the Port of Wilmington

DART First State will be providing bus service to the Rehoboth Beach Independence Day Fireworks display on Sunday, July 1. Celebrate Independence Day with a spectacular firework display beginning at approximately at 9:15 PM.  Visitors can take the Beach Bus 201 Red Line to the fireworks from either the Rehoboth or Lewes Park & Ride lots, which are open all day. Riders will be dropped off at the Henlopen Hotel located on Surfside Place. We encourage individuals to purchase a Daily Pass on the bus.  The fireworks are launched from the beach south of Rehoboth Avenue; depending on the weather the fireworks may be launched any time after 8 PM.

The Rehoboth Park & Ride is located on Shuttle Road, just off of DE Route 1, north of Rehoboth Avenue. The parking rate is $10 per day and up to 4 occupants of the vehicle receive a free daily pass valid for the Fireworks and all Beach Bus routes. The Lewes Park & Ride is located near Five Points, south of DE Route 9. The parking is free, and the cost to ride the bus is $2 per trip or $4.20 for a Daily Pass.  Visitors can also take any of the Beach Bus routes to either Park & Ride lot to connect with the fireworks buses.

DART to the fireworks and everywhere this summer with the Beach Bus!

The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State.  Real-Time Transit Information is now available on the free DelDOT App (iOS and Android), as well as DART’s Trip Planner on DartFirstState.com.  For more information, please call 1-800-652-DART.