The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has issued two state authorizations to the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) toward its redevelopment of the former Chemours Edgemoor industrial site as a shipping container facility. DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin signed an order today approving a subaqueous lands permit, and a federal consistency certification.

The plant site, located at 4600 Hay Road, Edgemoor, was sold by Chemours to the DSPC in 2017. The plant was demolished by Chemours prior to the sale, and all applicable DNREC permits were transferred to the DSPC.

DNREC held a public hearing Sept. 29, 2020, to assure both efficiency and transparency, and to ensure the public was afforded opportunity to provide meaningful comment on the proposed project. More than 50 members attended the virtual hearing and DNREC acknowledged the high interest in the project by extending the public comment period through Dec. 1, 2020. DNREC received nearly 200 public comments.

The subaqueous lands permit issued today by the DNREC Division of Water authorizes DSPC to build a 112-foot wide by 2,600-foot long wharf, dredge the berth and access channel to a depth of 45 feet below mean low water, and install 3,200 feet of bulkhead along the shoreline.

The second authorization, a federal consistency certification required from the DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, concurs that the activities associated with the proposed project complies with the enforceable policies of the DNREC Coastal Management Program.

Both DNREC authorizations require compensatory mitigation, including to offset the filling of some subaqueous lands belonging to the state as part of the construction of the proposed container port. The mitigation required includes:

• Constructing over an acre of intertidal wetland habitat along the Delaware River
• Funding an Environmental DNA Fisheries Monitoring Program for the state
• Creating new public access at Fox Point State Park to the natural resources of the Delaware River

The DNREC Secretary’s Order entailing approval of both applications concludes that the DSPC has adequately demonstrated compliance with all requirements of the statutes and regulations, has submitted the requisite Compensatory Mitigation Plan required for the filling of 5.5 acres of subaqueous lands of the state of Delaware related to the proposed construction associated with this project, and is continuing to work with the Department to assure that all commitments and ongoing compliance requirements are met.

The Department has concluded that the permit and certifications issued today are appropriately conditioned to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment.

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. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###

A couple of participants in a Delaware youth waterfowl hunt head out from the duck blind to check their decoys.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt Set for Saturday, Oct. 16

Additional Delaware hunting seasons are set to open in October, including snow goose, duck, other migratory bird and firearm deer seasons, as well as the one-day, youth-only waterfowl hunt on Saturday, Oct. 16, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Deer hunting is allowed on all Sundays through Jan. 31, 2022, using only those hunting methods legal for the respective established deer hunting seasons, with additional information available at de.gov/sundayhunt.

Hunting season dates opening in October:

• Snow goose: Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2022; Feb. 5, 2022
• Antlerless deer: Oct. 1 through 3, Oct. 18, Oct. 22 through 25 and Oct. 29 through 31, including Sundays
• Muzzleloader deer: Oct. 8 through 17, including Sundays
• Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Oct. 16
• Ducks, coots and mergansers: first season split Oct. 22 through Nov. 1

Continuing hunting seasons include:

• Mourning dove: through Oct. 4
• Moorhen, gallinule, sora, Virginia rail, king rail and clapper rail: through Nov. 24
• Common snipe: through Nov. 27
• Archery and crossbow deer: through Jan. 31, 2022, including all Sundays
• Gray squirrel: through Feb. 5, 2022 (closed during November shotgun deer season)
• Coyote: through Feb. 28, 2022
• Crows: through March 26, 2022 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only)
• Groundhog: through June 30, 2022

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many hunting opportunities on state wildlife areas. For more information, visit de.gov/wamaps.

A Delaware hunting license or License Exempt Number (LEN) is required to hunt, and most waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl (duck) stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. Migratory bird hunters, except crow hunters, also need a Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, which can be obtained through the DNREC ePermitting website or by calling toll free 855-DEL-HUNT (855-335-4868). If using the DNREC ePermitting system, hunters should either create a profile or use the “Quick Hunting Registration” option.

Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Hunters can opt to receive one free annual CAP with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license. To obtain a CAP, hunters will need the registration card for the vehicle to which the pass will be assigned.

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at de.gov/huntinglicense or from hunting license agents statewide. Hunters obtaining a LEN are reminded that they should create a profile using the DNREC ePermitting system portal or obtain a LEN at a hunting license agent if they have not already done so. Federal Duck Stamps can be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at 2021/2022 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

Additional information on hunting seasons and wildlife areas is available in the 2021/2022 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide or by calling the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. Information on hunting licenses, the state waterfowl stamp and the Conservation Access Pass is available at de.gov/huntinglicense or by calling the Recreational Licensing office at 302-739-9918.

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 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###

With today’s ribbon cutting at Garrisons Lake near Smyrna, the fishing and boating public is officially invited to enjoy the popular angling destination with its newly-renovated concrete boat ramp and added amenities of a courtesy dock and freshly repaved parking lot. Managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the new ramp can easily accommodate vessels from hand-launched jon boats to trailered bass boats up to 20 feet long.

Garrisons Lake is one of Delaware’s five most-fished ponds, with good populations of sunfish, largemouth bass and black crappie sport fish most frequently caught by anglers. The recreation spot south of Smyrna is also among the state’s top 10 most popular ponds and lakes for largemouth bass tournaments, attracting both local and out-of-state fishing clubs.

“DNREC’s public service mission includes providing and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities for Delawareans and visitors, as well as supporting local communities by providing facilities like this new boat ramp at Garrisons Lake,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Anglers have a good chance of catching a 4- or 5-pound bass here, so these renovations will enhance the lake’s appeal and popularity as a tournament destination as well as a great place to fish.”

The $353,700 project was funded by federal Sport Fish Restoration grants administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), combined with matching funds from Delaware recreational fishing license fees through the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The federal funds come from fishing tackle excise taxes paid by recreational anglers and fuel taxes paid by boaters. The new facility replaces a deteriorated 30-plus-year-old boat ramp.

Other improvements made at Garrisons Lake in partnership with USFWS have included a nearly 140-foot-long, handicapped-accessible aluminum footbridge completed in 2012. The popular footbridge makes Garrisons Lake a safer and more accessible place to fish. Previously, anglers and visitors had to walk along the shoulder of a busy highway. The footbridge also provides safe and convenient fishing access to the spillway.

Garrisons Lake is one of 65 boating access areas managed and maintained by DNREC throughout the state.

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 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###

Snowy egrets engage each other on the water/Photo credit: Kimberly Barksdale.

Submissions This Year Focus on Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control invites photographers of all ages and skill levels to enter this year’s Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest. Hosted by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, the contest aims to share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is all the land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. Only images from Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be accepted this year. Contest judges will be looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s waterways, landscapes, sustainable watershed practices, native plants and animals, and agricultural practices.

Registration for the Delaware Watersheds photo contest opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28. All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26. A judging panel consisting of DNREC staff — a photographer, an educator and an environmental scientist — will determine finalists whose entries are voted on at the Delaware Watersheds Facebook page. Facebook voting will pick the winning photograph.

The winning photographer will receive a prize pack consisting of a $250 Visa gift card, a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass for 2022, a signed certificate from Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, a print of the winning photograph, a feature published in Outdoor Delaware online magazine, and additional goodies.

To enter the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, participants should fill out the online submission form, which includes providing a description with the entrant’s name, phone number, address, email address, and the location where the image was taken. Those submitting photos will click on the map in the submission form or use their device’s GPS locator to show where the photo was taken within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A legal parent or guardian must complete the form for contestants under the age of 18. Images must be at least 1650 by 2100 pixels (but no larger than 10MB) resolution, and the digital image must be submitted in .jpeg or .png format. Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed form, will be accepted.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###

State Artist Claims 1st Prize in Trout Stamp Contest for Fourth Time

The results are in, and two artists have won top honors in Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp art contests. A painting of a tundra swan by Broderick Crawford of Tiger, Ga., will grace the 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp. In the 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp art contest, George Bradford of Georgetown, Del., took the top prize with his painting of a brown trout. Mr. Bradford also won second place in the Trout Stamp contest for his painting of a rainbow trout.

The annual stamp art competition drew seven entries for the 2022/23 Waterfowl Stamp and 12 entries for the 2022 Trout Stamp. The Waterfowl Stamp contest specified that submitted artwork must include a tundra swan. Trout Stamp artwork entries could depict a rainbow, brown or brook trout. Both contests are sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

As the 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp winner, Broderick Crawford receives a $2,500 cash prize and 150 artist’s proofs of the limited edition print series of his first-place entry. Crawford, a lifelong resident of Tiger, Ga., is a self-taught artist who enjoys painting nature, wildlife and outdoor sporting art. Previously, Crawford took home a first-place win in Delaware’s 2019 Trout Stamp competition. Crawford also placed first in Iowa’s 2019/2020 duck stamp competition and as high as fourth in the national Federal Duck Stamp contest. He also is also an award-winning carver of waterfowl, shorebird and songbird species.

As the 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp winner, Delaware artist George Bradford receives a $250 prize and retains the rights to reproduce and sell prints of the stamp artwork. Bradford has entered the state’s Trout Stamp competition annually since its inception, placing multiple times with artwork that has depicted each of the three eligible trout species. Bradford’s success this year marks his fourth first-place win for the Delaware Trout Stamp and the second time that he has been honored with both first and second place in the same year for his entries.

Other winners were:

• 2022/23 Waterfowl Stamp — Second place: John Stewart, Wilmington, Del,; third place: Diane Ford, Bethesda, Md. Honorable mentions: Jane Jordan, Volant, Pa.; Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind.; and Buck Spencer, Junction City, Ore.
• 2022 Trout Stamp — Third place: Tory Farris, Dover Foxcroft, Maine, brook trout. Honorable mentions: Broderick Crawford, Tiger, Ga., rainbow trout; Eric Jablonowski, Suwanee, Ga., brown trout; and Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind., brown trout.

The art in each contest were judged by a different set of five judges, with each judge separately evaluating and scoring the respective contest entries in person as part of COVID-19 safety precautions, rather than convening in the customary judging panel format. Videos depicting the artwork, judging and winning entries can be viewed on DNREC’s YouTube channel at Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp.

The winning 2022/23 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp will be available for purchase July 1, 2022, and the winning 2022 Delaware Trout Stamp will be available for purchase Jan. 1, 2022.

DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, started the Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and print program in 1980 to raise funds for waterfowl conservation, including acquiring and improving wetland habitats vital to migratory waterfowl. To date, more than $3.6 million has been raised. A Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and hunting license are required for most waterfowl hunters.

Delaware began requiring trout stamps for anglers in the 1950s. A Delaware Trout Stamp and a general fishing license are required for most anglers to fish in designated trout waters during certain seasons, with the funds from the sale of the stamps used by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife to purchase and stock trout in two downstate ponds and seven streams in northern New Castle County.

Delaware hunting and fishing licenses, as well as Waterfowl Stamps and Trout Stamps, are sold online and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase licenses or stamps online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting and fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp art competitions, visit Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and Delaware Trout Stamp.

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 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###