DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control was informed today by Tidewater Utilities, Inc. that the Lewes wastewater treatment plant was back online and had resumed normal treatment of effluent following a Dec. 18 system malfunction at the plant. Tidewater Utilities informed DNREC Saturday evening that treatment membranes contaminated during an automated backwashing process which caused the malfunction had been replaced, ending the plant’s system bypass operation that discharged partially-treated effluent for nine days into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and the lower Delaware Bay.

Installation today of the new and highly-effective treatment membranes by Tidewater Utilities enabled the Lewes WWTP to treat incoming flow as normal and discontinue bypass pumping. During the bypass operation, DNREC staff was onsite at the plant directing Tidewater Utilities’ sampling of the partially-treated effluent for bacteria levels and monitoring the sampling for possible health risks.

When the system malfunctioned and the bypass operation began, DNREC also ordered immediate closure of shellfish harvest areas in the lower Delaware Bay due to health concerns from partially-treated effluent. The closure of shellfish harvest areas will continue for a 21-day period from the time the bypass situation ended and Lewes wastewater treatment plant’s effluent met required discharge standards. The closure ordered by DNREC is based on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidelines under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and provides adequate public health protection for pathogens of concern, including viruses. The closure applies only to clams, oysters and mussels – crabs, conch and fish species are not affected.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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Event : Special Weather Statement
Description : Surface observations and webcams indicate locally dense fog has
developed in Delmarva and southern and eastern New Jersey early
this morning. This fog may persist for the next couple of hours
before dissipating late in the morning. If driving, prepare for
rapid changes in visibility. Slow down, use low-beam headlights,
and maintain extra distance from other vehicles.

Instruction :

Event : Special Weather Statement
Description : Patchy dense fog has continued to expand this morning into New
Jersey and is expected to persist through the early morning
hours. Improvement is expected after sunrise this morning.
Visibilities could be reduced to a quarter mile or less at times.
Motorists should drive slowly, use low beam headlights, and leave
plenty of distance between other vehicles.

New Year’s Day is a great time to kick the 2020s off on the right foot with one of 18 First Day Hikes hosted by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation. First Day Hikes is a national movement sponsored by America’s State Parks to encourage the celebration of fitness in the nation’s great outdoors.

There’s no need to register for any of the hikes listed below; just show up prepared to walk! Items hikers may want to bring along include comfortable hiking/walking shoes, a camera, a bottle of water, appropriate layers for the weather, a hat, sunglasses, a backpack, and snacks. Some hikes may require water-resistant shoes, or have age or pet restrictions. Not all hikes are suitable for strollers.

Check out one of the following hikes to celebrate the New Year at a Delaware State Park.

• 10 a.m. – Alapocas Run State Park, Wilmington – 2 to 3 miles – Easy/Moderate
Meet at Blue Ball Barn. Leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome.

• 10 a.m. – Fort Dupont State Park, Delaware City – 1.1 miles – Easy
Meet at the parking lot closest to the river, at the end of Wilmington Avenue/Old Battery Lane.

• 10 a.m. – Trap Pond State Park, Laurel – 2 miles – Easy
Meet at Baldcypress Nature Center.

• 11 a.m. – Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes – 1.5 miles – Moderate
Park in the Point Comfort Station Parking lot and walk north to the Point parking lot. Minimum age: 7 years old with an adult.

• 12:30 p.m. – Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington – 1/4 mile – Easy
Meet at the gift shop.

• 12:30 p.m. – Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area, Lewes – 1.7 miles – Easy
Meet at Fort Miles Parking Lot. Minimum age: 7 years old with an adult

• 1 p.m. – Bellevue State Park, Wilmington – 1.5 to 3 miles – Easy
Meet at Bellevue Arts Center. This hike is for all ages and is stroller friendly.

• 1 p.m. – First State Heritage Park, Dover – 1/4 mile – Easy
Meet at the John Bell House.

• 1 p.m. – Holts Landing State Park, Bethany Beach – 1.7 miles – Easy
Meet at Holts Landing Picnic Pavilion.

• 1 p.m. – Killens Pond State Park, Felton – 1 to 3 miles – Varying Difficulty
Meet at the Nature Center.

• 1 p.m. – Lums Pond State Park, Bear– 2.5 miles – Easy/Moderate
Meet at Area 1 Pavilion/. Pets are permitted but must be on a 6-foot leash.

• 1 p.m. – Auburn Valley State Park, Yorklyn – 1.1 miles – Moderate
Meet at 1516 Snuff Mill Road Trail lot.

• 1 p.m. – Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington – 2-2.5 miles – Moderate
Meet at the Nature Center.

1 p.m. – White Clay Creek State Park, Newark – 1 to 2.5 miles – Multiple Difficulties
• 1.3 miles – Moderate – Millstone Pond Trail. Meet at Carpenter Recreation Area.
• 2 miles – Moderate/Difficult – Arc Corner Monument Loop. Meet at Nature Center.
• 2 miles – Moderate – PennDel/Pomeroy Trail. Meet at Nature Center
• 2.5 miles – Moderate/Difficult – Twin Valley Trail. Meet at Carpenter Recreation Area.

• 3:30 p.m. – Auburn Valley State Park – Easy – 1 mile
Meet at the Paper Mill Parking Lot on Benge Road.

For more information about the Delaware State Parks First Day Hikes and to see maps of the park trails beforehand, go to https://destateparks.com/firstday or call 302-739-9220.

Wilmington man sentenced for assault under I-95

Deputy Attorney General Monil Amin secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who raped and impregnated a teenager with developmental disabilities. In June 2018, Britt Bowen, 45, of Newark sexually assaulted the victim while in his care. Bowen was arrested after DNA evidence revealed him to be the father. In August 2019, Bowen pleaded guilty to Rape Second Degree. A Superior Court judge sentenced Bowen to 10 years in prison, including completion of the Transitions sex offender program, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 3 years of probation. Bowen must also register as a Tier 3 sex offender. DOJ social worker Lisa Rapko assisted with the case.

A 57-year-old Wilmington man who cut another man’s chest with a box cutter was sentenced to time in prison. Juan Rojas was sentenced in connection with the 2018 assault of a homeless man in the city. In August 2018, Rojas, the victim, and two other people were drinking under the I-95 overpass at Maryland Avenue and Liberty Street when the victim confronted Rojas about inappropriately touching a woman who was with them. As the two argued, Rojas cut the victim from his neck down to his stomach causing an 18-inch long wound. In May 2019, Rojas pleaded guilty to Assault First Degree and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. A Superior Court judge sentenced Rojas, who has 2 previous felony assault convictions on his record, to 12 years in prison followed by 3 years of probation. Deputy Attorneys General Monil Amin and Renee Hrivnak prosecuted the case.