SEAFORD – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, along with the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy and the Delaware Nature Society, invites the public to the Chapel Branch Nature Area for a day of outdoor activities from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. The nature area’s address is 492 Woodland Road, Seaford, DE 19973.

The Chapel Branch Nature Day is the final event in this year’s Reclaim Our River – Nanticoke Series, a program offering monthly events, workshops and recreational activities designed to raise water quality awareness in the Nanticoke Watershed.

The day will feature family fun activities, including nature walks with guides discussing native wildlife; hands-on exploring of the creek critters of Chapel Branch with the Delaware Nature Society; and demonstrations of how Delawareans can test water quality in the state’s waterways. The event will educate visitors on techniques used to improve water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution entering Delaware’s waterways.

Meanwhile, local Boy Scouts and other volunteers will lend a hand to conservation at the nature area by cleaning up trash, working on invasive species removal, trail maintenance, and trail building. Additional volunteers are welcome to join the project for helping maintain the nature area. While some tools will be available, volunteers also are encouraged to bring clippers, shovels, saws, and wheelbarrows.

For more information, contact Philip Miller of DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship at 302-290-3578 or philip.miller@delaware.gov.

SEAFORD – Chapel Branch Nature Area will be the setting Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a nature walk that marks the final event in the 2015 Reclaim Our River (ROR), Nanticoke Series, a program offering monthly events, workshops and recreational activities aimed at raising water quality awareness in the Nanticoke Watershed. DNREC along with the Delaware Nature Society, Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, and the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, invites everyone to the event where the ROR partnership will also celebrate the series’ efforts to highlight water quality awareness while providing fun outdoor activities for the entire family.

For a $5 registration fee (plus $1.12 credit card fee) participants can enjoy food, drinks, and informational exhibits by the ROR partnership, as well as a nature walk where guides will discuss native wildlife. There will be hands-on activities exploring the “creek critters” of Chapel Branch with DNS as well as demonstrations on how to test water quality with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance’s Creekwatchers.

Local Boy scouts and other willing participants will lend a volunteering hand to the nature area by working on trail maintenance to reduce erosion into the creek – volunteers are always welcome for helping maintain this beautiful area. Some tools will be available for use although volunteers are encouraged to bring additional items such as clippers, shovels, saws and wheelbarrows which may be in short supply. The focus of this volunteer service project will be building trail steps to reduce erosion.

The nature walk and ROR celebration are sponsored by Del-Coast Design & Build and Dogfish Head Brewery. Raffle items provided by sponsors include a $500-value trash and recycling storage shed from Del-Coast Design & Build, as well as apparel and other items from Dogfish Head Brewery. The Chapel Branch Nature Day will also have on hand experts to educate event attendees on techniques used to improve water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution entering Delaware’s waterways.

The Chapel Branch Nature Area is located at 492 Woodland Road Seaford, DE 19973. More information about the final 2015 ROR, Nanticoke Series event can be found at http://delawarewatersheds.org/ . Registration can be done at http://tinyurl.com/chapelbranch while a flyer for the event can be found on the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship website (PDF).

The Reclaim Our River, Nanticoke Series co-sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is designed to bring monthly events, workshops and recreational activities to the Nanticoke Watershed. The series offers participants fun opportunities to connect with their waterways and provides important information on water quality to help protect aquatic resources. Chapel Branch Nature Area is managed by the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy a local land trust protecting lands within western Sussex County and protecting the Chapel Branch Nature Area in perpetuity.

Media Contact: Phil Miller, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-290-3578, or email: philip.miller@delaware.gov

Vol. 45, No. 326