Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve Turns 30

The multiple-site Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve – with components at St. Jones in Dover and Blackbird Creek near Townsend (the aerial photo above) – includes both private and state-owned land managed by DNREC in conjunction with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). /DNREC photo

Components Include St. Jones in Dover, Blackbird Creek Near Townsend

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve will mark its 30th anniversary on Friday, July 21.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 30 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems. Established through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, the reserves represent a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the coastal states. Combined, the research reserves cover nearly 1.4 million acres of estuaries and are focused on stewardship, research, training and education.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, otherwise known as DNERR, consists of two sites that were selected and nominated for inclusion in the national research reserve system by then-Governor Michael Castle. The multiple-site reserve – with components at St. Jones in Dover and Blackbird Creek near Townsend – includes both private and state-owned land managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in conjunction with NOAA.

In 1993, following NOAA’s approval of the submitted management plan, DNERR became the 22nd reserve in the system, encompassing 3,800 acres. Then-Governor and current U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper signed the designation on July 21, 1993.
Currently, the reserve protects 6,364 acres, with 1,245 acres of freshwater wetlands, ponds and forest lands in Blackbird Creek, and 5,119 acres of salt marsh and open water habitats on the St. Jones River on Delaware Bay.

“Delaware is proud to be a part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve system and to contribute to their efforts at aiding conservation and management on both the local and national levels,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The diverse range of habitats in Delaware makes our state an ideal location for research and training, and the initiatives undertaken there provide valuable information on keeping estuaries healthy.”

The Blackbird Creek Reserve boasts several miles of trails through uplands and along the marsh, a canoe/kayak launch, restoration demonstration areas, as well as a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities for the community, teachers, students, and families. It also supports ongoing research and monitoring, field studies, citizen monitoring programs and training opportunities for coastal decision-makers.

The St. Jones component includes a visitors center that is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays (closed on weekends and holidays). It also features hiking trails, hands-on interactive activities and exhibits, restoration demonstration areas, St. Jones boat trips and a variety of programs throughout the year.

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

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

###

New DMV Support Pollinator Plate Creating a Buzz

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is excited to announce its new specialty Support Pollinators License Plate recently won the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association’s (ALPCA) Best Plate Award for 2021.

This morning at 10:00 am Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Director Jana Simpler, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Deputy Director Amy Anthony, Senator Stephanie Hansen, and Cyndi McCabe President of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association gathered at St. Jones Reserve in Dover to celebrate the award-winning plate.

The Support Pollinators Plate showcases a combination of vibrant colors, native plants, birds, bees, and butterflies. By purchasing the plate for a one-time fee of $50 online or at any DMV location, you help support pollinator habitat maintenance throughout the State of Delaware. Seventy percent of the fee or $35 goes directly to the Delaware Department of Transportation’s Environmental Stewardship Office to assist with creating, enhancing, and preserving pollinator habitats.

“At DMV we strive to provide a first-class experience for everyone whether in person, on the phone or online,” shared Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “Our specialty plates give our customers the ability to financially support an organization and an avenue to proudly display their support. For us they are more than just aluminum collections of numbers you affix a sticker every couple of years. They symbolize causes near and dear to our customers. It’s a service we are proud to provide.”

“The Support Pollinators Plate bloomed from a collaboration between DelDOT’s Environmental Studies Office, Senator Stephanie Hansen, former Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohen, and the Delaware Native Species Commission,” commented Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles Jana Simpler. “The process took about 2 years and we were beyond thrilled with the final design. It’s really a stunning plate. We are so grateful to be recognized by APLCA.”

“So much of the food we eat everyday depends on the tiniest animals whose incredible work many of us take for granted, and one of the best ways we can protect the fragile ecosystems of these often highly-specialized creatures is by making sure we are all aware of their importance,” said Senator Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown. “That’s why I worked with Representative Debra Heffernan, Senator Dave Sokola and the Delaware DMV last year to create a special Delaware license plate for people who want to support pollinator habitat creation and conservation. While we didn’t set out to win any awards, we all know how serious Delaware takes its license plates, and I’m so excited this beautiful design is getting the attention it deserves.”

ALPCA’s Best Plate Award Coordinator Gus Oliver said “Many of the members commented about the combination of attractiveness and how the plate number did not interfere with the design like it does with most colorful plates. I knew it had an excellent chance of winning the moment I first saw it.”

Community Relations Officer Susan Lee crafted the initial plate design and Susan Detwiler an author and illustrator from Baltimore, Maryland transformed the concept into the colorful work of art now available from DMV. To date, 531 Support Pollinators plates have been reserved since its June 2021 release.

To purchase yours or one of our other specialty plates go to dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/tags/. Also, make sure to stop by and see us at the Delaware State Fair July 21 through July 30. In addition to DMV’s annual 5 digit black and white tag giveaway, we’ll be giving away a Support Pollinators Plate to recognize this special plate and all it’s attempting to achieve.

This is the state’s second time winning an ALPCA for best license plate. Back in 2008, the organization declared Delaware’s limited-edition Centennial License Plate the best in the country. The DMV currently has 135 specialty plates representing a variety of organizations and causes. Out of the 1,141,367 vehicles registered in the State of Delaware 39,044 are specialty plates.

ALPCA members worldwide nominate the best new plates and then vote based on two judging criteria: the overall attractiveness of the license plate design and its legibility as a tool for public safety and law enforcement. Since 1954, ALPCA has promoted license plate collecting and research, the exchange of information and plates. With over 2,800 members from 50 states and 19 countries, ALPCA is the largest license plate hobbyist organization in the world. For more information on the award or to see the other nominees visit alpca.org/bestplate/2021/.

Students ‘Make A Splash’ for the Environment

Fourth and fifth grade students learn about the importance of trees at the annual Make A Splash event held at the St. Jones Reserve and John Dickinson Plantation in Dover Wednesday. DNREC photo.

Annual Event Highlights Importance of Protecting Water Resources

More than 370 students from five elementary schools participated in the annual “Make a Splash” festival Wednesday, an event that educates students on the diversity of estuary life and the importance of Delaware’s water resources.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) co-sponsors the event, which is held annually at the St. Jones Reserve, a component of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR), and the Department of State Division of Historical & Cultural Affairs’ John Dickinson Plantation near Dover.

Throughout the day, students visited activity stations dedicated to the historical and current uses of Delaware’s water resources such as recycling’s impact on clean waterways, a wetland walk and a wave tank. From singing sea shanties to partaking in the “Incredible Journey: The Water Cycle” students were submersed in all forms water.

“Make a Splash is a great opportunity for students to connect what they are learning in their classrooms to what is happening in the environment,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In experiencing those connections, it is our hope to inspire the next generation of Delaware’s water resource stewards.”

Students from Lighthouse Christian School, John Bassett Moore, Townsend, South Dover and Rehoboth elementary schools participated in the event.

“Bringing together natural and cultural resources is a win for Delaware,” said Tim Slavin, director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. “Special thanks to DNREC for their years-long partnership with HCA at Make-A-Splash.”

Volunteers and presenters in this year’s event included the DNREC Divisions of Climate, Coastal and Energy, Parks and Recreation, Water, Fish and Wildlife, Watershed Stewardship and Waste and Hazardous Substances, as well as representatives from John Dickinson Plantation,

the New Castle County Conservation District, University of Delaware and the Delaware Department of Agriculture Delaware Forest Service.

The event is organized by a steering committee represented by DNERR, John Dickinson Plantation, National Park Service, City of Dover, and DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and Division of Parks and Recreation.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

###

Help Document Bird Species at Delaware Reserves

The Clapper Rail, also known as a saltwater marsh hen, is a bird species that can be seen in Delaware. /DNREC photo

Citizen Science Project at Blackbird Creek and St. Jones Runs Through 2022

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is encouraging visitors to help with a data collection project by documenting the species of birds they see while visiting the Blackbird Creek and St. Jones reserves.

The year-long project will help create a snapshot of the birds that visit the lands within DNERR’s boundaries, and will help provide input for conservation plans, land stewardship and restoration efforts.

The Bald Eagle, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Clapper Rail and tree swallows are among the birds that have been spotted by volunteers so far this year.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country whose goal is to establish, protect and manage natural estuarine habitats for research, education and coastal stewardship.

The DNERR has two main components, the Blackbird Creek Reserve in Townsend and the St. Jones Reserve in Dover.

Birdwatchers often will challenge themselves to see or hear as many birds or bird species as possible within a single year. DNERR’s Big Year is a similar challenge, but visitors to the reserve don’t have to be avid birdwatchers to participate in the citizen science project.

“Citizen science projects like our Big Year and Chronolog are ways that visitors to the reserve can help with ongoing research,” said Laurel Sullivan, education coordinator for DNERR.

Chronolog stations set up at Blackbird Creek and St. Jones allow visitors to take a photo with their smartphone and upload it into a database. The photos are used to create a timelapse project to help observe and document environmental changes.

Volunteers who want to participate in DNERR’s Big Year Challenge must register. They can then log their observations during the year into one of two apps, iNaturalist or eBird. Volunteers can join at any time during the year.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

DNREC to Close, Reduce Hours at Some Facilities for January

Brandywine Creek Nature Center/DNREC photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will close or reduce hours for several public activities and facilities following the surge in coronavirus cases driven by the omicron variant.

While state parks, nature and wildlife areas continue to be open, the following closures and reductions in hours will be in effect through the end of January due to current or anticipated staffing shortages:

The Brandywine Zoo will reduce its open hours to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in January.
Public restroom facilities in state parks and reserves will close starting next week. Portable toilets will be available for visitors in place of the public restrooms. Campground facilities will remain open.
State park offices will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nature centers, interpretive centers and museums, and the St. Jones Reserve visitor center will be closed starting Monday. Jan. 3.
The Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center will continue to operate with reduced days and hours by appointment only. Details are available at de.gov/ommelanden.
Indoor programs will either be held virtually or canceled. Outdoor programming and volunteering will continue. Restrictions may apply to outdoor programs. For questions regarding specific programs, contact the office at the park or location where the program is scheduled.
First Day Hikes will still occur on Saturday and will have a self-check-in option at each park.
Mandatory in-person hunter education field days in January will continue, but with fewer students in smaller groups.

DNREC encourages the public to take advantage of online resources, including applications for permits and licenses, and virtual educational content. Public hearings and meetings are also virtual with updated information available on the DNREC online calendar, de.gov/dnrecmeetings.

All conditions are subject to change. Staff and visitors in state buildings and facilities are still required to wear face coverings. For the latest information on COVID-19 in Delaware, visit de.gov/coronavirus.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov

###