DNREC, Kent Conservation District Offer Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant Funding for Septic Tank Pump-outs

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Kent Conservation District announced today that grant funding is still available for Kent homeowners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Kent County who wish to have their residential septic tanks pumped out for routine maintenance. Funding for the grant initiative is made available by DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship through a Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant.

Regularly pumping out a septic system prolongs the life of the system as well as protects surface and ground waters from potential contamination. Up to $200 in grant funds are available to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding for the project is provided through DNREC’s Chesapeake Implementation Program, in partnership with the Kent Conservation District, which is administering the program.

More than $68,000 in grant funding – or enough to pump out roughly 300 Kent County residential septic systems – has been made available through this initiative. The homeowner must live in the home to qualify for grant funding. The pump-out project runs through June 30, 2024 or as long as funding lasts. The application process is quick and easy, with most applicants being approved within 24 hours. To identify which watershed you live in, visit the Delaware Watersheds website, a partnership between DNREC and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center.

For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Implementation grant, interested homeowners may contact the Kent Conservation District at 302-608-5370 or visit kentcd.org for a grant application.

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 Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

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

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DNREC to Seek Community Water Project Proposals

Community Water Quality Improvement Grant funding from DNREC has helped implement projects including living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project featuring a wetland and bioswale to manage stormwater runoff; and stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation./DNREC photo.

Deadline for Submissions for Upcoming Grant Cycle is April 24

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control encourages Delaware non-profit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners’ associations to submit project proposals to be considered for matching grant funds from DNREC’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program.

Funding for grant award projects in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000. Projects recommended by DNREC staff for funding through a competitive grant process will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle. The request for proposals can be found at de.gov/envfinance.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants can help in implementing projects or programs that improve water quality on developed lands with specific watershed improvement plans and strategies. Programs and projects selected for these grants must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques, and/or practices for water quality improvements, with cost effective and measurable results.

Eligible projects may include:

Enhancement or restoration of water quality within an impaired watershed.
Community stormwater management improvements in existing developments in partnership with municipalities.
Non‐regulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution control strategies, watershed-based restoration plans, whole basin management preliminary assessments, or community‐based stormwater permits.

Past projects that received Community Water Quality Improvement Grant funding have included: a green roof installation; living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project featuring a wetland and bioswale to manage stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces; stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and green stormwater improvements.

Grant proposals should be submitted by email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10MB. All grant proposals must be received by DNREC close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) Wednesday, April 24.

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 Environmental Finance team administers Delaware’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, making funding available to municipalities, the private sector, nonprofit organizations and individuals. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

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

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Delaware to Open Upstate Trout Season With Youth-Only Fishing Day Set for April 6

A brown trout. /DNREC graphic by Duane Raver

Designated Trout Streams to be Closed to All Fishing from March 23 Until Season Openers

Delaware’s 2024 upstate stream trout season will open for youth anglers under age 16 at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced. The next day, Sunday, April 7, marks the traditional opening day of the state’s trout season – from that day forward all anglers can fish for trout starting a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset, unless otherwise restricted by area rules.

White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek, Christina Creek, Pike Creek, Beaver Run, Wilson Run and Mill Creek all will be stocked prior to the season with thousands of rainbow and brown trout – including trophy-sized fish weighing two pounds or more as an added attraction for anglers. Trout stocking is planned to continue weekly at White Clay Creek and periodically at the other upstate streams during April.

A designated section of trout stream on Red Clay Creek was introduced in 2023 just for fly fishing, from Yorklyn Road approximately 0.4 miles downstream to the Auburn Valley State Park boundary. In addition, a digital map of Delaware’s trout streams is available to anglers.

To prepare for the season, the streams where trout will be stocked are closed from March 23 to April 5. This period accommodates the stocking effort by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, eliminates incidental hooking of the trout, and allows the fish time to adjust to their new waters.

Trout anglers planning to fish the upstate trout streams should note the following rules and regulations:

A Delaware fishing license is required for anglers age 16 and older, unless an angler is exempt.
A Delaware trout stamp is required for those age 16 and older, unless an angler is exempt.
A Delaware young angler trout stamp is required for youth ages 12 through 15.
A trout stamp is required to fish for trout until June 30, unless an angler is exempt.
The daily possession limit is six trout, except inside the designated fly-fishing-only sections of Red Clay and White Clay Creeks, where the daily possession limit is four trout.

Proceeds from the purchase of Delaware trout stamps are used to help purchase trout for stocking the next year – learn more at de.gov/troutstamp. This popular fishery is also supported by federal Sport Fish Restoration funds administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that are generated from anglers purchasing fishing equipment.

Delaware fishing licenses and trout stamps are sold online and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit de.gov/licensing. For more information on trout fishing in Delaware, visit de.gov/trout.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, including in-season trout stocking dates, see the 2024 Delaware Fishing Guide.

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 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

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

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DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center to Reopen April 3

DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve will open for the season Wednesday, April 3 as the shorebird migration starts to descend on the Delaware Bay /DNREC graphic

Division of Fish and Wildlife-Run Facility Offers Educational Exhibits and Commanding Views of the Mispillion Harbor

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will welcome visitors to the DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve when the center reopens for the 2024 season on Wednesday, April 3.

The DNREC facility managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the months ahead as follows:

April: Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only
May through August: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays
September: Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only (The center is closed from October through March.)

In the spring, the DuPont Nature Center’s large deck overlooking the harbor offers wildlife watchers an unparalleled view of the spectacle of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally listed threatened red knots that depend on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey to the Arctic. More information on horseshoe crab and shorebird viewing is available from the DuPont Nature Center at de.gov/dnc.

Inside the center visitors will find exhibits that describe the environmental and historical importance of the Mispillion Harbor and also view saltwater tanks showcasing a variety of aquatic species from horseshoe crabs to diamondback terrapins. Along with educational exhibits, the center hosts a variety of programs that focus on the Delaware Bay ecosystem and the wildlife that can be found there.

The center also offers live views of nesting osprey and wildlife visiting the area through its osprey cam and Mispillion Harbor cam. Both live cams will be back online at the center by April 1 and from that date also can be viewed at de.gov/dnc.

DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center is located in the heart of Delaware’s Bayshore Region at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford. Admission to the center is free and open to the public. For general information about the center, including its operation and programs, visit de.gov/dnc.

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 nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

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

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Volunteers Sought to Join Concord Pond Cleanup April 13

Last year’s volunteers found plenty of trash around Concord Pond, a popular fishing spot. /DNREC photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and partners are seeking volunteers to join this year’s cleanup event at Concord Pond, a popular bass fishing and boating destination in Sussex County that drains into Deep Creek at the cleanup site. Registration is open now for the cleanup to be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 13 as part of DNREC’s month-long celebration of Earth Day 2024.

DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship Reclaim Our River – Nanticoke Series program is partnering with Nanticoke Watershed Alliance and the Delaware Nature Society’s Abbott’s Mill Nature Center to host the cleanup, with volunteers gathering in the pond’s parking area near the intersection of Concord Pond Road and Henry Drive in Seaford.

Volunteers will remove trash from both the tidal and nontidal areas around the pond. Gloves and trash bags and some trash grabbers will be provided. However, participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves and trash grabbers if they have them.

More information about the Concord Pond cleanup can be found on the DNREC website. To join DNREC in celebrating Earth Day throughout the month of April, visit de.gov/earthday.

The Reclaim Our River partnership hosts events, presentations, and workshops that promote healthy watersheds. Upcoming activities are posted on the DNREC Calendar of Events and Division of Watershed Stewardship Facebook page.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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