DOVER, Del. (August 13, 2024)—The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced the 28th round of easement selections by the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation, preserving 40 farms and 2,262 acres of farmland. With this announcement, the Carney administration has preserved 403 farms, the highest number in the program’s history.

“Investing in Delaware’s AgLands program allows us to protect Delaware’s agriculture heritage and the future of our number one industry while benefiting the greater environment,” said Governor Carney. “I want to thank the Aglands team at the Department of Agriculture, the members of the General Assembly, and all who work to preserve this important part of Delaware’s history and economy. It’s been an honor to support this program and our family farms over the years.”

In 1991, the General Assembly passed legislation, signed into law by Gov. Michael N. Castle, to create the framework for the Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation, which oversees the preservation program with staffing support from Department of Agriculture employees. The first funding was allocated in 1995 under Gov. Carper, who preserved 273 Delaware farms; Gov. Minner, with 288 farms; and Gov. Markell, with 292 farms.

After over 10 years of not being funded, Governor Carney reinstated the Forestland Preservation Program funding in 2019. Entirely forested properties in managed timber production can enroll in the Forestland Preservation Program, which purchases Forestland Preservation Easements similar to Aglands Preservation. Through Governor Carney’s support in maintaining a sustainable forest system that benefits wildlife habitat, the forest industry, and all Delawareans, the state’s Forestland Preservation Program saw a significant increase in participation. Since then, the program has purchased 12 forestland easements on more than 866 acres, with another 1,617 acres temporarily preserved on 21 forestland areas, similar to how agricultural districts operate for farmland preservation. An additional 40,600 acres of forest have been purchased under Aglands Preservation.

“Trees are extremely important for our environment, but they are also extremely important for the revenue they can produce for our landowners, which is why the Forestland Preservation Program is key to our timber industry in Delaware,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “Because of the importance the Governor placed on planting trees to improve the environment, the Delaware Forest Service made a major effort to plant 1,013,149 trees from 2020 to 2024 before the Governor left office, contributing to his legacy of protecting Delaware’s land and improving the overall environment through increasing forested areas across the state.”

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Easements are available for viewing through an online dashboard at https://de.gov/agdashboard.

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation selects farms approved for easement purchase using an impartial discounted ranking system that maximizes taxpayer benefits. The Foundation does not own the land but purchases landowners’ development rights and places a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property. Landowners must first voluntarily enroll their farm into a 10-year preservation district and are eligible for permanent preservation the year after they apply.

In addition to more than 155,486 acres in permanent easements, Delaware’s Aglands and Forestland Preservation Programs have more than 47,300 acres of land enrolled in 10-year preservation districts.

County governments can partner with the state program and add county funds to select properties in their areas, leveraging state resources for the greatest impact. In today’s announcement, the county governments provided over $715,000 to help purchase 18 easements in this round.

“Agriculture is the lifeblood of Sussex County. It drives our economy, and it’s driven our communities for centuries. Sussex County is agriculture through and through, right down to our roots,” County Council President Michael H. Vincent said. “The County Council is honored to be part of this continuing effort through the Delaware Aglands program to preserve what is an integral way of life, one that we hope will continue to be for generations to come.”

Delaware’s statewide program made its first round of easement purchases in 1996 and has since preserved 22.7% of New Castle County farmland, 42.8% of Kent County farmland, and 22.5% of Sussex County farmland.

Levy Court President Terry L. Pepper said, “Kent County is committed to balancing growth with conservation. This program not only helps preserve valuable farmland, but also supports local agriculture, ensuring a sustainable and thriving environment for generations to come.”

Delaware farmers interested in preserving their farms should be sure they meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Property must be zoned for agriculture and not subject to any major subdivision plan.
• The property meets the minimum Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) score of 170. LESA is a process that attempts to estimate the farm’s long-term viability based on the farm’s soil productivity, land use, and agriculture infrastructure on and around the farm. Scores range from 0-300. Aglands program staff calculate the LESA score when applications are received.
•The property must be working farmland with at least $1,000 in agricultural sales annually and generally have at least 10 acres of cropland.
• Farms of 200 acres or more constitute an agricultural district.
• Farms under 200 acres can enter the program if it is within 3 miles of an existing agricultural district.

With 1,273 farms already preserved, rarely does a farm under 200 acres not meet these criteria.

For more information or to obtain applications related to the Delaware Aglands Preservation Program, interested landowners can visit https://de.gov/aglands or call (302) 698-4530.

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes representatives from agriculture and state agencies. Trustees are Mark Collins, chairman; James G. Vanderwende, vice-chairman; Janice Truitt, treasurer; William H. “Chip” Narvel Jr., secretary; Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse; State Treasurer Colleen C. Davis; Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Shawn Garvin; Dorothy Abbott; Robert Walls, Sr.; Robert Emerson; and H. Grier Stayton.

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Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski joined state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the $21 million first phase of the Park Avenue relocation project on Friday. The nearly two-mile segment of road included reconstruction of Arrow Safety Road from Route 113 to S. Bedford Street, a new roundabout at the intersection of S. Bedford Street/Arrow Safety Road/Park Avenue, and a new alignment of Park Avenue from S. Bedford Street to the southern side of the Delaware Coastal Airport. An aerial rendering of the phase 1 project can be found here.

The existing Park Avenue that was primarily a residential area is now closed to through traffic from S. Bedford Street to the airport in both directions.

“The completion of phase 1 of this project is an important milestone as it provides a needed alternative for truck traffic traveling in the Georgetown area and allows for an important economic development project for Sussex County to move forward,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “This project is the result of a collaborative effort between the community, our state legislators, Sussex County and Town of Georgetown leadership, and our congressional delegation. We now look forward to delivering the next phase of the project.”

“Thanks to the hard work of DelDOT and our state and local leaders, this crucial project to improve traffic and invest in our communities while supporting the local economy is moving forward,” said U.S. Senator Carper. “The progress of this project is particularly important for our continued efforts to extend the Delaware Coastal Airport’s main runway, which is a which is a significant economic driver for Sussex County and the region. I’m grateful for the collaboration underway to make this critical transportation project a reality.”

“The Park Avenue road realignment is a critical next step for the County in the yearslong effort to extend the main runway at Delaware Coastal Airport. Much like needing both speed and lift for a plane to achieve flight, our vision for a longer runway would never get off the ground without the lift that the Park Avenue realignment has now provided,” Sussex County Council President Michael H. Vincent said. “Thanks to the continued efforts of our partners at DelDOT, our local legislators, and the tireless efforts of our congressional delegation, specifically Sen. Tom Carper, the runway extension project is finally cleared for take-off.”

Phase 2 of the project will make improvements to Park Avenue from Route 9 to the realigned Park Avenue. Utility relocation work for phase 2 of the project is underway with construction expected to begin in early 2026, and will take two years to complete.

Offshore wind developer US Wind, Inc. has submitted multiple permit applications to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for its wind energy project offshore of Maryland. To inform the public and engage Delawareans in the regulatory process, DNREC will host a public information session on Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Beacon Middle School, 19483 John J. Williams Highway, Lewes, Del.

The offshore/onshore export cables are proposed to land at Delaware Seashore State Park’s 3R’s Beach parking lot near the DNREC building line and potential dune environments. It would interconnect into a proposed substation to be constructed on a tax parcel adjacent to the Indian River power plant in Sussex County. Portions of the proposed wind power export cables would be located under state-regulated wetlands and subaqueous lands in the Atlantic Ocean within Delaware state waters and the Indian River Bay. The proposed cabling covers 15.2 miles.

The public information session will provide Delawareans the opportunity to review US Wind’s permit applications for the proposed connector cables and substation. US Wind requires the following authorizations from two of DNREC’s division as follows:

• Subaqueous Lands Permit – Division of Water
• Water Quality Certification – Division of Water
• Wetlands Permit – Division of Water
• Beach Preservation Coastal Construction Permit – Division of Watershed Stewardship

At the public information session, Delaware residents and visitors can review display boards, engage with staff, federal partners, and the applicant and ask questions. The display boards, an online survey and other materials will be available after the session. Feedback from the public information session will inform the formal presentation for the Joint Virtual Public Hearing on July 9.

Written comments for the record will be accepted from now until Sept. 9, 2024, via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov; by using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments; or by U.S. mail to Lisa A. Vest, Hearing Officer, Office of the Secretary, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Social media or text messaging platforms will not be accepted for submission to the record.

For additional details about the project, along with related documents, the public is encouraged to visit DNREC’s website at de.gov/uswind.

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 Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. 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; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov 

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Last year’s volunteers found plenty of trash around Concord Pond, a popular fishing spot. /DNREC photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and partners are seeking volunteers to join this year’s cleanup event at Concord Pond, a popular bass fishing and boating destination in Sussex County that drains into Deep Creek at the cleanup site. Registration is open now for the cleanup to be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 13 as part of DNREC’s month-long celebration of Earth Day 2024.

DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship Reclaim Our River – Nanticoke Series program is partnering with Nanticoke Watershed Alliance and the Delaware Nature Society’s Abbott’s Mill Nature Center to host the cleanup, with volunteers gathering in the pond’s parking area near the intersection of Concord Pond Road and Henry Drive in Seaford.

Volunteers will remove trash from both the tidal and nontidal areas around the pond. Gloves and trash bags and some trash grabbers will be provided. However, participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves and trash grabbers if they have them.

More information about the Concord Pond cleanup can be found on the DNREC website. To join DNREC in celebrating Earth Day throughout the month of April, visit de.gov/earthday.

The Reclaim Our River partnership hosts events, presentations, and workshops that promote healthy watersheds. Upcoming activities are posted on the DNREC Calendar of Events and Division of Watershed Stewardship Facebook page.

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 Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. 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 DNREC Mosquito Control section’s woodland pools spray campaign targets larval (immature) mosquitoes before they can emerge as biting insects that torment Delawareans and visitors alike later in spring and summer. /DNREC photo

Spring Campaign to Reduce Numbers of Year’s First Biting Mosquitoes

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will begin its annual spraying of spring woodland pools to control aquatic immature (larval) mosquitoes as early as Friday, March 15, weather permitting. The spring spray campaign by DNREC’s Mosquito Control section will begin in southern Sussex County, then expand into Kent and New Castle counties over the next several weeks. Controlling early-season woodland pool larval mosquitoes limits the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes later in the spring.

Up to 10,000 acres of wet woodlands near select populated areas will be treated with a helicopter applying the bacteria-derived insecticide Bti. As with all insecticides used by the Mosquito Control section within the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bti has been determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pose no unreasonable risks to human health, wildlife or the environment when applied in accordance with product label instructions as required by federal law.

The spring woodland mosquito larvae spraying campaign marks the beginning of Delaware’s mosquito control season – which in most years continues until late October or early November. Starting in April, Mosquito Control section activities will expand to larval and adult saltmarsh mosquitoes, other freshwater mosquitoes, and urban and suburban container-breeding mosquitoes to manage mosquito populations for improving the state’s quality of life and to protect public health.

Locations and times for scheduled mosquito spraying activity in the state can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-338-8181. Mosquito spraying announcements can also be received by email, text or voicemail by subscribing to Mosquito Control’s Spray Zone Notification System at de.gov/mosquitospray.

To request local mosquito control service, call a Mosquito Control section field office:

• Glasgow Office, 302-836-2555, serving New Castle County and the northern half of Kent County, including Dover.
• Milford Office, 302-422-1512, serving the southern half of Kent County south of Dover and all of Sussex County.

For more information on DNREC’s mosquito control efforts in Delaware, visit de.gov/mosquito.

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

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