Thanks to the volunteers, like the ones shown here at Cape Henlopen State Park, trash removed from the shorelines and waterways were unable to be carried farther into the coastal environment /Delaware DNREC Photo

Annual Cleanup Took Place A Week Before Nor’easter Impacted Delaware Coast

Volunteers across Delaware joined together on Sept. 19 for the 39^th annual Coastal Cleanup organized by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Individuals, families and community groups turned out at more than 45 sites – from Fenwick Island to Battery Park – and removed more than 3,800 pounds of trash from shorelines, wetlands and waterways. More than 1,200 volunteers of all ages signed up for the three-hour DNREC Delaware beautification event.

 “We had a great turnout for the annual cleanup this year, and it was so heartening to see and hear the enthusiasm from both longtime and first-time volunteers who gave their time to clean our state” said DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson, who joined volunteers for the cleanup at the Little Creek Wildlife Area and Port Mahon. “Just a week later, we were reminded how quickly conditions along our coast can change when a nor’easter flooded many of our beaches. I’m grateful to everyone who helped remove litter before that storm and to the DNREC employees and local partners who have worked tirelessly on our beaches since then.”

Volunteers collected about the same amount of trash as in 2025, removing about 21,000 individual items. Cigarette butts, food wrappers and bottle caps were the top three items removed from the sites. Some notable large items included construction materials and a grill, among others which can be found on the dashboard on the de.gov/coastalcleanup webpage. The timing proved especially important when the nor’easter arrived the following week. Thousands of pieces of litter had already been removed from beaches, wetlands and waterways before storm surge and flooding could carry them farther into the coastal environment.

The storm subsequently deposited a new wave of debris along Delaware’s coast, including pier pilings, construction materials and signage. DNREC shoreline crews have been removing that storm debris as part of the ongoing recovery effort. Keeping litter and debris out of Delaware’s waterways and coastal environment is a year-round effort, whether it comes from everyday activities or a major coastal storm.

The data collected by volunteers helps show what’s washing up on Delaware’s shores and have informed state efforts to reduce litter. All data are also sent to the International Ocean Conservancy’s Coastal Cleanup database so Delaware results contribute to global trends and help solutions for cleaner oceans and waterways.

“It has been one of my favorite events of the year to organize and participate in,” said Alyssa Kolakowski, DNREC Coastal Cleanup coordinator. “Seeing first-hand as well as hearing from the volunteers how much they enjoy participating in keeping the shorelines and waterways clean is the perfect reminder of why we do this each year.”

DNREC emphasizes that keeping beaches and waterways clean is a year-round effort. Simple actions make a big difference: carry out what you bring in, pick up litter around your neighborhood, bring gloves and a trash bag on outdoor outings, and recycle properly. Visit the de.gov/recycling webpage for guidance on what can be recycled in Delaware.

DNREC will update the de.gov/coastalcleanup webpage with a results dashboard, information about next year’s cleanup date and volunteer sign-up when details are available.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Alyssa Kolakowski, alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Lower Court Ruling on
Firearms for 18- to 20-Year-olds While New Law
Impacts Supervision for 16- and 17-Year-old Hunters

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Division of Fish and Wildlife has updated Delaware hunting guidance concerning direct supervision impacting 18- to 20-year old hunters after a state Supreme Court ruling struck down an earlier state Superior Court decision that allowed 18- to 20-year-old hunters to hunt without direct supervision when using a range of hunting firearms. The new court ruling reinstates some restrictions, though another court case is still pending.

The high court reversal pertains to House Bill 451, a 2022 law amending the age in which a person can possess, purchase and sell a firearm in Delaware. The law, which had a three-year grace period for full enactment, did not specifically focus on hunting and is still under a federal court challenge. Some of its provisions regarding supervised and unsupervised hunting have been affected by House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427, which passed into law earlier this year. That law allows 16- to 17-year-old hunters to hunt without direct supervision if certain requirements are met: if they have permission from a parent or guardian, have completed an approved basic hunter education course and are in possession of a valid hunting license.

The high court’s ruling on HB 451 came almost a year after a state Superior Court determined that Delaware’s constitutional right to keep and bear arms extended to all Delawareans aged 18 or older – eliminating a provision in Delaware Code from a 2022 law that stated 18- to 20-year-old hunters would require direct supervision from a person age 21 or older when the state’s 2025-26 hunting seasons opened.

A legal challenge to the 2022 law that includes the direct supervision requirement remains pending, but the reversal at the state court level has been incorporated into DNREC’s guidance for hunters.

The guidance now provides for direct supervision of hunter age groups 18 to 20 when using certain firearms as a method of take. Hunters who are 21 years old can hunt unsupervised with any firearms that are a legal method of take in Delaware.  The chart below indicates that hunters under the age of 16 must be under direct supervision at all times regardless of the method of take when hunting, although this issue remains subject to a challenge in the courts.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Annual Event Features Food and Craft Vendors, Music and More

Family fun, food and entertainment await visitors to the 18^th annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival Saturday, October 17.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) hosts the festival at the reserve, along the banks of Blackbird Creek. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, 801 Blackbird Landing Road, near Townsend.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, consisting of the Blackbird Creek Reserve and the St. Jones Reserve in Dover, is part of a national system of reserves that protects more than 1.3 million acres of coastal land and water.

“We are thrilled to partner with our vendors to provide a fun-filled day for Delawareans,” said Laurel Sullivan, education coordinator at DNERR.

The festival will feature crafts, hands-on learning about the estuary, live music, food trucks and kids’ activities. Visitors may also browse the works of artisans, enjoy hayrides and check out the educational exhibitors.

Food vendors scheduled to appear include Top Five BBQ, Shay’s Seafood and Soul, Nature’s Kitchen, 302 Acai, Kona Ice of South New Castle and Easy Peasy Lemonade. Musical vendors include Bryan Scar from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Em McKeever from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative (TEDI) will also be giving out free native trees while supplies last.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

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Pumpkin decorating is just one of the fun activities available during festivals at
Delaware State Parks this fall. /DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation photo

Join Delaware State Parks for Fall Events Throughout the 17 Parks

This fall, visitors can turn a trip to Delaware State Parks into the ultimate fall road trip with festivities popping up across the state.

Along the way, travelers can hike beneath changing leaves, bike scenic trails, paddle quiet waterways, discover historic sites, enjoy seasonal programs and extend the trip with camping or cabin stays. Part of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, there are 17 state parks across Delaware, and fall offers an ideal time to experience the variety of landscapes, outdoor recreation and history found throughout the state.

Join one of the many special events and activities hosted by Delaware State Parks Friends organizations:

• Chocolate Tasting at Cape Henlopen on Sept. 19

• Beer, Wine and Spirits Festival at Trap Pond on Sept. 26

• Pond Fest at Lums Pond on Oct. 10

These festivals offer fun for the family while supporting the Friends groups whose work is essential to the success of each park. Learn more about our Friends organizations and their work at the destateparks.com/friends-groups webpage.

Other programs available in fall are:

• Autumn Art Festival at Indian River Marina, Sept. 19, featuring over 50 vendors, live music, pumpkin painting and other fun activities for the whole family.

• Celebrate Lemurs at the Brandywine Zoo, Oct. 3, highlighting these incredible primates and efforts to conserve them with lemur-themed activities, special keeper talks, storytime and more.

• Delaware Heritage Festival at The Green in Dover, Nov. 7, offering living history demonstrations, crafts, entertainment, local vendors and family fun.

“The fall is a great time to come and enjoy our state parks,” said Matt Ritter, director of the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation. “We have something for everyone. Our team and Friends welcome the new season with memorable experiences and incredible opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy our natural, cultural and historic resources.”

Wagon Rides
Delaware State Parks offers wagon rides from mid-September through October at many parks, including Auburn Valley, Bellevue, Brandywine Creek, Cape Henlopen, Killens Pond, Lums Pond, and White Clay Creek state parks. Enjoy individual or private group rides. Accessible wagons are available at Bellevue, Brandywine Creek and White Clay Creek.

Camping
To see the many camping options available in Delaware, including tent and RV sites, yurts, cabins and cottages, explore options at the destateparks.com/overnight-accommodations webpage.

To find other opportunities to discover the diverse activities that Delaware State Parks offers in fall, visit the calendar at the destateparks.com/programs webpage. There is a fee for some events, but others are free with paid park admission.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment.  The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo.  For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Celebrating A Milestone Year
Delaware State Parks is celebrating 75 years of outdoor adventures and lasting memories. What began in 1951 with three parks has grown into a system that now includes 17 state parks, 22 nature preserves, the Brandywine Zoo and the Indian River Marina — together protecting more than 27,000 acres. In 2026, the division will honor the people, parks and partners who built this legacy and invite visitors to join in inspiring exploration, discovery and a deeper connection to the outdoors for generations to come.

Media contacts: Beth Kuhles-Heiney, elizabeth.kuhlesheiney@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC Community Meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16 to Provide Update on State’s
CWD Response and Explain Temporary Emergency Deer Hunting Regulations

Delaware has confirmed a third case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer in central Sussex County. The new detection expands the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CMZ) to include Wildlife Management Zone 11, along with zones 14 and 16. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is applying temporary regulations in the additional affected area to help limit the spread of the disease.

CWD is a fatal disease that affects deer and other members of the deer family. The deer that tested positive for CWD this week was initially investigated by DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife staff as a suspected case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). As part of the investigation, the staff also sampled the deer for CWD and received a positive result. The deer was located just east of the Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s Jones Crossroads Landfill near Georgetown.

Delaware became the 37th state to confirm CWD in wild deer this year. DNREC has tested deer for the disease since 2003 in preparation for the possibility that it would eventually reach the state.

DNREC will hold a community meeting on the evolving in-state presence of CWD in the auditorium at Delaware Technical Community College Owens Campus in Georgetown on Wednesday, Sept.16 at 6:30 p.m. For anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting, DNREC has made participation by a virtual option available via Microsoft Teams. More information and registration is available on the de.gov/dnrecmeetings webpage.

DNREC staff will be present starting at 6:10 p.m. at the Del Tech to sign up anyone wanting to speak at the meeting, with comments limited to two minutes.

The meeting will cover DNREC’s recent adoption of temporary deer hunting and rehabilitation regulations, with Division of Fish and Wildlife staff explaining provisions of the temporary regulations, including today’s expansion of the CMZ. Attendees should note that this meeting is informational and not part of a formal public comment related to the regulations. Possible permanent changes to regulations in response to CWD will be open for formal public comment during the standard regulatory process later this year.

More information – including the latest temporary regulation, the state response plan to CWD in Delaware, a map of the CWD Management Zone, and public guidance for dealing with CWD – can be found on the de.gov/cwd webpage.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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