Two New Fishing Piers to be Built Along Shore by Start of Trout Season

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today the temporary closure of Newton Pond near Greenwood. The closure is necessary due to a new construction project to begin Dec. 26, with completion anticipated by Feb. 14, 2024 and in time for the start of the downstate pond trout season.

The construction will include the installation of two new 120-foot-long aluminum fishing piers that will be installed parallel to the shoreline to allow for better access for trout and other fishing. Currently, anglers must traverse the steep slopes of the pond to access the water’s edge. The new piers will be a great improvement for shoreline fishing in the pond, especially for the upcoming trout season.

This project will be completed before the 2024 trout season.

More information related to this project is available by contacting the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

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

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The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has issued a temporary emergency variance for air quality to allow for the construction and operation of a rental boiler at Perdue Foods, LLC’s Milford poultry processing facility until a temporary permit can be issued following a public notice to appear Sunday, Sept. 3.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, plant managers at Perdue Milford – which processes approximately 240,000 chickens daily – discovered a critical failure in one of their permitted boilers. The boiler remains inoperable at this time.

The DNREC Division of Air Quality expects to issue a temporary air permit for the rental boiler early next week. The permit will allow the rental boiler to operate for up to 90 days. The variance incorporates requirements for Perdue Foods, LLC to develop a boiler maintenance plan for the Milford poultry processing plant, including a plan for long-term facility maintenance, and requires the facility to solidify a commitment to continuous compliance with Delaware’s environmental regulations.

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 Air Quality monitors and regulates all emissions to the air. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Delaware students recently brought home awards from a national SkillsUSA leadership conference.

Forty-one Delaware SkillsUSA high school students joined more than 16,000 participants in the 2023 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. Students participated in events involving construction trades, video broadcasting, graphic arts, automotive trades, and leadership skills. Four students placed in the top 10, and 11 students received Skill Point awards, which represent the pinnacle of achievement in demonstrating proficiency and workplace readiness in a student’s occupational specialty. In addition, Delaware was recognized by the National SkillsUSA office for having the largest high school membership percentage increase and the largest overall membership percentage increase for the 2022-2023 school year.

The advisers and students, who were for the majority rising juniors, returned energized from Atlanta. They are ready to engage and help grow SkillsUSA in Delaware and allow our students the opportunity to participate in the best job interview in the world.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. Its vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.

The SkillsUSA National Championships are career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Through an investment from business and industry partners of about $36 million, the event occupies a space equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Unanticipated problems with a dam improvement project at Mud Mill Pond near Marydel has pushed the reopening of the pond’s DNREC-managed boat ramp back to July. /DNREC photo

The Mud Mill Pond boat ramp and adjacent ramp parking lot near Marydel in Kent County will remain closed into July due to construction activities associated with Mud Mill Pond dam improvements, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife manages the boat ramp and adjacent parking lot.

Unanticipated problems at the Mud Mill Pond dam have extended the construction timeframe beyond the original estimate of a February project completion – which was to coincide with the boat ramp’s reopening.

Anglers who fish from a boat or shore from public fishing access areas can alternatively use the nearby Derby Pond boat ramp near Camden or Garrisons Lake boat ramp near Smyrna.

For more information regarding the boat ramp closure, contact the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries section at 302-739-9914.

For more information regarding dam construction activities, contact the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship Dam Safety Program at 302-834-5557.

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,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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The dam at Mud Mill Pond near Marydel is to undergo renovation over the next six months to include replacing gates in the spillway and installation of stabilizing rip rap./DNREC photo

Facility Now Set to Close for Dam Project Aug. 22

Due to a recent change in the Mud Mill Pond dam construction schedule, the Mud Mill Pond boat ramp and adjacent parking lot near Marydel has been reopened, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The boat ramp and parking lot will close from Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 until March 2023 due to construction activities associated with Mud Mill Pond dam improvements.

With the Mud Mill Pond boat ramp to be closed at that time for the remainder of 2022 and into next year, anglers who fish from a boat or shore from public fishing access areas can alternatively use the Derby Pond boat ramp near Camden or Garrisons Lake boat ramp near Smyrna.

For more information regarding the boat ramp closure, contact the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

For more information regarding dam the construction activities, contact the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship Dam Safety program at 302-834-5557.

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. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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