Public invited to an open house July 20 on draft Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan

LEWES (July 15, 2016) –DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body (RPB) invite ocean stakeholders and the interested public to attend an open house to consider a draft Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan. The open house is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 at The Virden Retreat Center, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958. The program will begin with a brief presentation on the draft plan, followed by a poster session and opportunities for questions and comment. The agenda can be found on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) website by clicking here.

“The draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan represents nearly three years of deliberations and stakeholder outreach by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body in developing ocean policy for the region,” said Sarah W. Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Program Administrator, who along with DNREC Fisheries Administrator John Clark, is the state’s representative on the RPB. “With many people in Delaware depending on the ocean for its vast resources, the RPB is providing an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to learn about the plan and give comments that will be considered for the final document that will be submitted to the federal government.”

The draft plan outlines a series of actions on how federal and state agencies, tribes and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council can better collaborate to ensure healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems and sustainable ocean uses in the Mid-Atlantic, including state and federal waters off Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The draft Plan can be found on the RPB website at http://www.boem.gov/MidA-New/. The public comment period closes on September 6, 2016.

The draft plan supports improved government coordination and increased stakeholder participation to ensure healthy ocean ecosystems and sustainable ocean uses. The healthy ocean ecosystem goal promotes ocean health, functionality, and integrity through conservation, protection, enhancement, and restoration. Sustainable ocean uses require planning to provide for existing and emerging ocean uses that minimize conflicts, improve effectiveness of government, and support economic growth.

The draft plan has been developed by the RPB with the support of MARCO. Established in 2009 by the Governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, MARCO provides a forum for the coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality.

Last January, Delaware Coastal Programs hosted the MARCO forum on scientific data that was used to develop the draft Ocean Action Plan for the region. The content of the plan is the culmination of research, coordination and planning through contracted projects that included marine ecological data, human use data and the Regional Ocean Assessment.

President Obama’s National Ocean Policy mandated that each U.S. ocean and coastal region develop a plan to guide ocean use, manage resources, and utilize the principles of marine spatial planning for increased coordination across all levels of government. Additional information about the RPB may be found at http://www.boem.gov/Mid-Atlantic-Regional-Planning-Body/.

Contact: Sarah W.Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-9283; John Clark, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9914; or Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 258


Public Listening Session on Draft Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Planning Framework set for Feb. 27 in Lewes; Public invited to provide input

LEWES, Del (Feb. 18, 2014) – The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body (MidA RPB) invites the public to provide input on the Draft Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Planning Framework by participating in a listening session.

Delaware’s representatives to the MidA RPB will host a public listening session from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27 at DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Services Facility, 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958. Registration is strongly encouraged prior to the session, but not required. Please visit the website to register.

The MidA RPB seeks robust input and comments on the Draft Framework, which will provide guideposts for how the MidA RPB moves forward with regional ocean planning. The Draft Framework proposes a draft vision, an initial geographic focus, and draft principles, goals and objectives.

The Draft Framework is available for public review and comment on the MidA RPB website through April 15, 2014. In addition to attending the listening session, the public is encouraged to email written comments to the MidA RPB at:  MidAtlanticRPB@boem.gov.

The MidA RPB will consider all comments received in revising the Draft Framework and will discuss the Revised Framework during its meeting in spring 2014. Please check the website for additional information.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body is an intergovernmental group created to coordinate and implement regional ocean planning.  It includes representatives of six states (DE, MD, NY, NJ, PA and VA), The Shinnecock Indian Nation, the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and nine federal agencies. The Federal agencies designated are: the Department of the Interior, represented by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; the Department of Commerce, represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Department of Defense, represented by the United States Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Department of Homeland Security, represented by the United States Coast Guard; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Energy, represented by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program; the Department of Transportation, represented by the Maritime Administration; and the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Additional information about the Regional Planning Body may be found at http://www.boem.gov/Mid-Atlantic-Regional-Planning-Body/.

Contact: Sarah W. Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-9283; John Clark, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9914; or Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902


Arts in the Estuary celebration set for Sept. 28 at St. Jones Reserve; Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 20th anniversary event includes the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Plant Sale

DOVER (Sept. 17, 2013) –To celebrate the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 20th anniversary, the St. Jones Reserve is holding an event – Arts in the Estuary –  and the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28. Admission is free to the event, being held, rain or shine, at the Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover and at the John Dickinson Plantation located next to the Reserve at 340 Kitts Hummock Road – two of the most treasured natural and cultural areas in Delaware.

“On National Estuary Day, we invite families to join us and celebrate our 20th anniversary and spend the day experiencing the beauty of the St. Jones Reserve through the arts,” said Jennifer Holmes, Education Coordinator with the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. “Families can discover the Reserve’s natural wonders, enjoy the artwork, activities and presentations and purchase a native plant for their own backyards.”

The event is a celebration of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 20th anniversary in advancing coastal and estuarine conservation, research and education. At noon on the outdoor stage, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara, along with a representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Delaware Coastal Programs Administrator Sarah Cooksey, will welcome visitors and highlight the work accomplished at the Reserve to establish, protect and manage estuarine habitats for research and education.

“Arts in the Estuary” features more than 16 artists, authors and exhibitors showcasing their work for sale amidst the lush landscape of the St. Jones Reserve. Visitors can view painting and carving demonstrations, speak to local artists, paint an estuary landscape and get tips on how to create their own piece of art. Children of all ages can demonstrate their talents by entering the “Thank You Delaware Bay” art contest or make a short video clip thanking the Bay for all it has to offer. Performing on the outdoor stage throughout the day are musician Em McKeever, the Itinerant Dance Theater and the Young Actors Guild, previewing their upcoming play “Treasure Island.” At the John Dickinson Plantation, costumed interpreters will guide visitors through the mansion and demonstrate the colonial art of preserving, smoking and pickling foods.  At the St. Jones Reserve, food will be offered for sale by Abbott’s Grill of Milford.

For more information about the event visit: http://de.gov/dnerrarts 

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) was established in 1993 to promote the stewardship and understanding of Delaware’s coastal areas through science and education.  DNERR is a cooperative program between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Coastal Programs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country. For more information, visit http://de.gov/dnerr.

Visit us on the web http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/DNERR 
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Contact:  Jennifer Holmes, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 302-739-6377; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.


2013 Coastal Management Assistance Grants awarded by DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs

DOVER (August 2, 2013) – DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2013 Coastal Management Assistance Program grants, with this year’s focus on projects that involve sea level rise and SLR adaptation planning. More than $126,000 was awarded this year through funding made available to the Delaware Coastal Programs by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Projects eligible to receive funding during this grant cycle were those focused on advance planning for, and reducing the impacts of coastal hazards, including sea level rise adaptation.

“Given Delaware’s vulnerabilities as a low-lying coastal state, it’s absolutely critical that we prepare for more extreme storms and sea level rise,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “These communities and organizations should be commended for taking proactive steps toward sea-level rise adaptation and coastal resiliency.”

This year’s Coastal Management Assistant Program grant recipients, with a description of their projects, were:

  • The City of Delaware City received grant funding to evaluate long-term adaptation alternatives in response to sea level rise with tools developed by the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategies Community Task Force using existing data and information, current engineering projects and community input to develop strategies to minimize risk to the city and its residents and businesses within the Dragon Run drainage area.
  • The City of Lewes received grant funding to review and assess the city’s floodplain ordinances and building codes, and to identify opportunities to improve the ordinances and codes to reduce future flood risk form coastal storms and sea level rise.
  • The Town of Bethany Beach received grant funding to purchase and install equipment necessary to provide real-time conductivity and water level monitoring in an effort to improve the town’s current salt-water intrusion monitoring program and to develop long-term contingency plans to proactively identify future conditions that could trigger remedial responses before the problems became critical.
  • The Town of Slaughter Beach received grant funding to evaluate and ascertain which structures located within town limits could be eligible for federal grants to raise the first floor elevations above flood level, compute cost estimate for construction services, and prepare applications for federal grants available to elevate the structures.
  • The Town of South Bethany received grant funding to establish an elevation base to assist in further defining protection and accommodation options for SLR adaptation strategies including conducting center line surveys along the town’s road corridors and associated bulkheads and catch basins.
  • Widener University received funding to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the legal means that may be used in managing adaptation to sea level rise to inform property owners, policymakers (both legislators and regulators), and the public as to what options are available through the identification of potential tools, review of local and state laws, and recommendation of new laws, regulations or polices. 
  • DNREC’s Tanks Management Section received funding to conduct a near-term vulnerability assessment of hazardous materials installations to assess flood and storm risks on storage tanks, process tanks and pressure vessels containing hazardous substances.

Vol. 43, No. 300

Contact: Bonnie Arvay, Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-9283, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

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DNREC’s first beneficial-reuse marsh restoration project succeeds with thin-layer spray application

DAGSBORO (May 22, 2013) – Delaware’s first foray into beneficial-reuse marsh restoration recently twinned maintenance dredging and “thin-layer” spray application of dredge spoil material as a one-two punch for reinvigorating a faltering marsh on Pepper Creek in Dagsboro.Thin-layer application sprayed on Pepper Creek marsh at 3,000 gallons per minute. The project – a collaborative effort with the Center for Inland Bays, spearheaded by DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and entailing many other department programs – involved extensive planning, environmental permitting and the customizing of equipment for the innovative dredging and thin-layer application.

The opportunity was ripe for a thin-layer beneficial-reuse restoration project at the 47-acre site within a state wildlife area on Piney Point in Sussex County. Upland dredge spoil disposal sites used in the past are filling up, and also can be costly to lease and maintain. The alternative of applying dredge material back onto tidal wetlands  supplies wetlands with extra sediment that helps maintain surface elevations above rising sea levels. Wetlands also use the nutrients in the supplemental material to increase plant cover and surface stability. The maintenance dredge in the navigation channel at the marsh pumping dredge spoil to the spray system.

Thin-layer disposal has been successfully deployed along the Gulf Coast for tidal marsh restoration to treat deteriorating areas, but never before in Delaware. At Pepper Creek, thin-layer dredge disposal applied sediment in the form of silt slurry to the marsh surface by pumping dredge material through a specially-constructed pipeline and spray-nozzle system. Specialized equipment for the project – to transport the dredged material from the main barge in the navigation channel to the shoreline – included flexible piping and a pivoting nozzle mounted on a mini-barge that can be moved along the marsh edge and up channels to extend the reach of sprayed material.

DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara noted that the thin-layer project at Pepper Creek marsh simultaneously fulfilled multiple objectives for the state and was a model for environmental cooperation. “By working together across the agency and with the Center for the Inland Bays, the Pepper Creek project achieved department goals, at the same time improving boating safety, preserving wildlife habitat, restoring critical wetlands and improving water quality,” he said. “Adopting this innovative approach will significantly improve the environmental outcome for the marsh and other restoration sites, at a fraction of the cost of the traditional way of doing business.”

DNREC had disparate goals at the marsh restoration site, all of which complemented thin-layer beneficial-reuse application. The Shoreline & Waterway Management Section needed to explore alternatives for disposing of material from maintenance dredging. The Watershed Assessment Section has long been interested in the potential of thin-layer application for improving coastal wetlands. DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has a vested interest in preparing its wildlife areas for sea level rise by way of maintaining important coastal habitat. The Division of Water’s Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section was keen on researching the dredge and spray technique to support their permit reviews. Meanwhile, DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs lent support during planning and permitting phases, while the Center for Inland Bays was a major partner throughout the project. The CIB also supplied funding for a portion of the pipeline needed on Pepper Creek and continues to monitor aspects of it while helping with planning for future projects using the thin-layer technique.

“This thin-layer project delivered ecological benefits through a collaborative process,” said Frank Piorko, director, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship. “Our wetlands science team provided funding and program direction for a shoreline assessment performed by the Center for the Inland Bays. DNREC’s Shoreline & Waterway Management staff provided technical and operations expertise and support to modify equipment, explore a new beneficial use of sediment as a demonstration effort, and the entire team now looks forward to monitoring this location and moving forward in a new direction for waterway management.” 

DNREC’s research crew originally selected the thin-layer spray disposal site along Pepper Creek because it is adjacent to the dredging project and was deemed in need of restoration. Highly-sensitive equipment for measuring surface elevation found it to have lower elevation than other tidal wetlands in the Inland Bays, and therefore more vulnerable to rising sea levels. If tidal wetlands cannot accrue or accrete sediment quickly enough to keep pace with water levels, a marsh will eventually convert to open water. Coastal wetlands can also migrate inland slowly if the shoreline is unobstructed by manmade materials.

The silt slurry was sprayed on the marsh at approximately 3,000 gallons per minute. The slurry was composed of approximately 85-90 percent water with sediment particles suspended in the water. Part of the planning effort involved anticipating potential runoff and reduced water clarity. As a precaution, the team also installed sediment traps in the major wetland guts and ditches using hay bales and straw logs secured with wooden stakes. The traps allowed water to flow past during the tide cycles and did not cutoff fish passage, but caught and held sediment particles until they could settle out of the water column. Work on the project also adhered to state and federal permit conditions that called for avoiding negative impacts to fisheries and marsh dwelling species.

DNREC applied up to 6 inches of sediment to the large emergent wetland. With each tide cycle, the applied material dispersed across the marsh surface, leaving an even layer that will settle over the next few months. The areas of marsh where the work was conducted were monitored daily and found to be accreting uniformly at acceptable levels.

 Small areas where grasses were knocked down by force of the sprayer will be replanted in time for the summer growing season. Site monitoring for detailed indicators such as plant cover, surface elevation and below-ground root volume will continue for two years.  Results gathered from the Pepper Creek project will be used to support similar projects in the future.

 Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 212

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