Parks Plans Wind Transmission Line Informational Event

Displays Will Highlight Construction’s Potential Impact on Recreation

Residents will have an opportunity to learn about recreational impacts of US Wind’s proposal to bring power lines from its offshore wind project ashore at 3Rs Beach in Delaware Seashore State Park during a public engagement event March 12.

US Wind’s projects, MarWin and Momentum Wind, entail the installation of up to 121 turbines. In December, Gov. John Carney announced the start of formal negotiations with US Wind for the potential lease of state land at 3Rs Beach to deliver power from the turbines to the regional electrical grid. For the March 12 meeting:

  • The information session is only about potential lease to allow the underground cables at 3Rs, including the construction plan and what will be visible to park users after construction.
  • The meeting will not cover or take comment about the wind turbines themselves and other possible parts of transmission lines, which are subject to other federal state permitting processes that have had or will have future opportunity for public comment.

The US Wind Projects are currently going through a federal permitting process that is separate from any state process, and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is currently considering input from a recent public comment process on the project’s environmental impact. Should the projects proceed, state environmental permits will also be required.

Shawn M. Garvin, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), said the Department is committed to engaging the public to the greatest extent possible throughout the project’s development.

“US Wind’s proposal to bring transmission lines ashore in Delaware, along with Gov. Carney’s announcement about negotiating a potential lease, have generated considerable public interest,” Secretary Garvin said. “While the formal permitting process is ongoing, this public engagement event provides us an opportunity to share how this discrete portion of project will impact recreational aspects at the park.”

Ray Bivens, Director of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, said Parks staff will be available throughout the 4-hour event to answer questions. Visitors can arrive at any time during the event to browse the displays and ask questions.

“While the scope of this event is limited to sharing information about the impact of recreational activities at the park and, specifically, the parking lot where construction is anticipated to be taking place, we believe park visitors will benefit from the information being presented,” Director Bivens said.

Visitors will be able to browse informational posters showing the existing parking area that will be impacted, inground-infrastructure, impact during construction, the proposed construction area and any anticipated restrictions on recreational access during the construction period.

The timeline and Web addresses for related future public meetings, as well as how and where to sign up for public notices and press releases, will also be available.

The public engagement event will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Bethany Beach Town Hall, 214 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach.

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 Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Jim Lee, jamesw.lee@delaware.gov

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DNREC Announces New Superintendents at Three Delaware State Parks

Tyeast Amankwah, Auburn Valley State Park; Diana Marsteller, Brandywine Creek State Park; Lindsey Goebel, Delaware Seashore State Park. /DNREC photos

 

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is pleased to announce three new superintendents at Delaware State Parks. Tyeast Amankwah is now the superintendent at Auburn Valley State Park, Diana Marsteller is the superintendent at Brandywine Creek State Park and Lindsey Goebel is the superintendent at Delaware Seashore State Park.

Tyeast Amankwah has been with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation for 23 years, starting as an administrative specialist with Wilmington State Parks in 2000. In 2018, she was hired as the assistant park superintendent at Bellevue State Park. She has twice been called upon to lead the park as the acting park superintendent during staff transitions. Amankwah received advanced training through the State Park Supervisory Development Program, the Events Management and Revenue Development Schools at Oglebay, and Event Security Planning for Public Safety Professionals through the Delaware State Fire School. She also received several awards from the division, including Outstanding Motivator and two Outstanding Customer Service awards from the division.

Diana Marsteller comes to Delaware from the Maryland Park Service, where she most recently held the position of state park ranger lead for their training division. She previously worked at Elk Neck State Park and supported front-line operations at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. She also has experience as a communications coordinator and in special projects for Johns Hopkins University, from which she also received a master’s degree in environmental science and policy. She holds numerous professional certifications in instructing trainings for emergency medical responders, wilderness and remote first aid, and CPR/AED instruction for professional rescuers.

Lindsey Goebel hails from Trap Pond State Park, where she was most recently the assistant superintendent. Her work with the division started as a seasonal naturalist at both Killens Pond and Trap Pond state parks. She previously worked in a civilian position with Denton Police Department in Maryland and held numerous positions in outdoor recreation, including as a camp specialist with the Maryland Park Service and kayaking guide for the Assateague Explorer. Goebel holds a bachelor’s degree recreation and park management from Frostburg State University and is a graduate of the prestigious National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School. She also received several awards from the division, including Outstanding Achiever, Outstanding Team, and the division’s prestigious Mohr Jennings Award.

Amankwah, Marsteller and Goebel are now responsible for all daily operations at their respective state parks, including supervision, scheduling and evaluation of staff; coordination of maintenance and visitor service programs; development and continuation of relationships with partners, adjacent landowners and community groups; and fiscal, programmatic and infrastructure planning.

Delaware State Parks welcome 8 million guests annually and have been selected as the best-managed state parks system in the nation on multiple occasions.

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 Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. 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; Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov

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Santa, Delaware Natural Resources Police Team up for Advance Delivery of Happy Holidays Through Toys For Tots Program

Delaware Natural Resources Police officers and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin welcomed Santa Claus, who arrived by police boat at DNREC’s Indian River Marina bearing toys donated to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign by the public and DNREC staff. The toys are to be distributed to children across the state whose families might have a difficult time with holiday gift-giving. Toys collected this year by Delaware Natural Resources Police – consisting of Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police, Natural Resources Police Park Rangers and DNRP Environmental Crimes Unit – included 13 bicycles along with toys including sports equipment, science kits, building kits, dolls, stuffed animals and games. All told, Santa’s delivery filled 17 containers and 18 bags. After collecting the donations, Delaware Natural Resources Police took them to local Toys for Tots locations for distribution in time for the holidays. /DNREC photo

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. 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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DNREC Announces Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Weekend to be Held Oct. 13 to 15 at Delaware Seashore State Park

Delaware Becoming an Outdoors-Woman participant Alicia Schmidt scores a bull’s-eye during a BOW archery course. /DNREC photo

 

BOW Offers Wide Range of Courses from Archery to Surf Fishing to a Managed Deer Hunt; Registration Deadline for Weekend Event is Oct. 3

Delaware Seashore State Park on Delaware’s Atlantic Coast is to be the setting for the 2023 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program the weekend of Oct. 13 to 15, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today, with the park welcoming BOW participants to the three-day program starting Friday, Oct. 13. The 2023 event marks the 24th year Delaware has hosted the program sponsored by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. Registration opens Wednesday, Sept. 20 and closes Tuesday, Oct. 3.

BOW offers a variety of 3.5-hour and 1.5-hour courses taught by DNREC staff and volunteer instructors, who share their expertise and provide instruction in a safe, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. The cost of participating in the full BOW weekend is $200, which includes meals and lodging, along with instruction in and use of necessary outdoors equipment and supplies.

As always, BOW participants can choose from a wide range of hands-on courses. This year’s offerings include Saltwater Boat and Surf Fishing, Outdoor Survival Skills, Intro to Archery, Intro to Birding, Cooking Your Catch (fish preparation and cooking), Nature I.D. Hikes, Crabbing, Clamming, Intro to Wildlife Trapping, and others, including Forest Bathing, an eco-therapy known to the Japanese, who popularized it, as “shinrin-yoku” which means “forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere.”

A specialty course this year at BOW is a mentored crossbow deer hunt, limited to five participants. The course involves learning how to safely use a crossbow and taking part in the mentored hunt in a designated area within Delaware Seashore State Park. Hunt participants are required to have a Delaware hunting license and hunter education certification prior to the event. Each BOW hunter will be partnered during the managed hunt with a mentor from the Delaware Hunter Education Office, to include hunter ed instructors and certified Delaware Master Hunters.

BOW registrations must be received by Tuesday, Oct. 3. More information about Delaware BOW weekend, and including online registration, can be found at de.gov/bow.

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, InstagramX (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

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

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Millsboro Angler Smashes State Record for King Mackerel with 52-Pound, 11.2-Ounce Catch Off Fenwick Shoal

Jeff McCoy and his wife Jen McCoy of Millsboro display the state-record
52-pound, 11.2-ounce king mackerel Jeff caught on a recent family fishing
outing along Fenwick Shoal off Delaware’s Atlantic Coast. /Submitted photo

 

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today that a Millsboro angler has become the kingfish king of Delaware’s Atlantic waters by catching a 52-pound, 11.2-ounce king mackerel, also known as a kingfish, in late July along Fenwick Shoal. Jeff McCoy landed the new state record king mackerel fishing from his 25-foot boat, The Reel McCoy, kept at DNREC’s Indian River Marina in Delaware Seashore State Park.

“To be honest, it was one of those cases of pure luck – well, not pure luck but like the old saying goes, ‘I’d rather be lucky than good almost any day,’ and that was one of those days,” said McCoy, while enroute back to the dock this afternoon after another angling outing on the ocean. His king mackerel, with a 56-inch fork length and 24-inch girth, bested the previous Delaware record, which stood for more than 31 years, by a stunning 4 pounds, 2.2 ounces.

McCoy’s catch was certified as a state record by Delaware Natural Resources Police Fish and Wildlife Cpl. Kyle Wharton at Hook ‘em & Cook ‘em Bait, Tackle and Seafood on the Indian River Inlet. Aboard the center console Reel McCoy with him that day were his wife, Jen McCoy, and his mother- and father-in-law, Lynda and Dennis Boas, and brother-in-law, Jeff Boas.

McCoy had intended to fish for sharks that day and once his family fishing party reached Fenwick Shoal he put in play some studious preparation and execution of strategy for catching a big gamefish – just not that gamefish. At one point, after the king mackerel made a 15-minute run, McCoy said his fishing line wrapped around the boat’s anchor rope. Quick action by his brother-in-law disentangled McCoy’s fishing line, and the fight was on again with the kingfish making several more runs. Eventually he gained the upper hand and was able to maneuver the fish alongside Reel McCoy, where it was landed with another assist from brother-in-law Jeff Boas.

Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament state records can be found at de.gov/sportfish. More information about the Sport Fishing Tournament and state record fish is available in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is also available in print from the DNREC Fisheries Section by calling 302-739-9914 and from license agents 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 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 FacebookInstagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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