Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest Opens for Entries

The winning photo from the 2022 Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest was “Turkey Trot”
by Kimberly Barksdale, taken “leaving Bear Swamp” in the Leipsic River Watershed.

 

Sponsored by DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship; For First
Time, Submissions Can Capture Any of the State’s 45 Watersheds

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is again inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to submit their best shots and to participate in the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest. Hosted by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, the contest will share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. Every acre of land and body of water in Delaware is part of a watershed. And the contest lens for focusing on watersheds has widened – unlike previous Delaware Watersheds Photo Contests, this year there is no restriction or limitation on where photos can be taken, meaning images associated with any of the 45 watersheds in the state will be accepted. The 2023 contest opens online for entries Friday, Oct. 13 and closes Friday, Nov. 10.

“The watersheds contest continues to challenge photographers to capture the unique beauty and functionality of Delaware’s watersheds,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “What better way of promoting the roles watersheds play in improving water quality and helping to manage precious water resources – both under threat due to impacts of climate change on our state. What we want to see in these photos is the outsize importance watersheds have – and have always had, but now more than ever – here in the second smallest and lowest-lying state.”

A panel of judges consisting of a photographer, an educator and a scientist from DNREC staff will be looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s waterways, landscapes, sustainable watershed practices, native plants and animals and agricultural practices. The judging panel will determine the finalists whose work will be posted on the DNREC website, with the winning photograph to be chosen by public voting through the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship Facebook page.

The winner will receive a prize pack including a $250 Visa gift card, a 2023 Delaware State Parks annual pass, a print of the winning photograph, and a certificate signed by Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. The winning photo also will be published in Outdoor Delaware, DNREC’s online magazine, at de.gov/outdoordelaware.

To enter the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, use the online submission form at de.gov/watershed. To learn more about Delaware watersheds and what you can do to benefit the, go to de.gov/howyoucanhelpwetlands.

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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DNREC Accepting Community Water Quality Improvement Project Grant Proposals

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control encourages Delaware non-profit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners’ associations to submit project proposals to be considered for matching grant funds from DNREC’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program.

Funding for grant award projects in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000. Projects recommended by DNREC staff for funding through a competitive grant process will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle. Project guidelines and the grant application can be found at de.gov/envfinance.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing projects or programs that improve water quality on developed lands with specific watershed improvement plans and strategies. Programs and projects selected for these grants must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques, and/or practices for water quality improvements, with cost-effective and measurable results.

Eligible projects may include:

  • Enhancement or restoration of water quality within an impaired watershed
  • Community stormwater management improvements in existing developments in partnership with municipalities
  • Non‐regulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution control strategies, watershed-based restoration plans, whole basin management preliminary assessments, or community‐based stormwater permits.

Past projects that received Community Water Quality Improvement Grant funding have included: a green roof installation; living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project featuring a wetland and bioswale to manage stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces; stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and green stormwater improvements on Conwell Street in Seaford.

Grant proposals should be submitted by email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10MB. All grant proposals must be received by DNREC close of business (4:30 p.m.) Tuesday, Nov. 7.

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 Environmental Finance team administers Delaware’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, making funding available to municipalities, the private sector, nonprofit organizations and individuals. 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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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


Volunteers Needed for DNREC-Sponsored Christina River Watershed Cleanup April 22

Volunteers at an earlier Christina River Cleanup offload trash and debris collected during the event/DNREC photo.

 

Registration Open for Event in New Castle County

As part of the 2023 Earth Month celebration in April, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will join the Christina Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to mobilize volunteers to pick up trash in northern Delaware during the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup.

The cleanup will be held from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 22 at 12 sites in northern New Castle County, from Brandywine Hundred south through Glasgow and Bear. Cleanup volunteers are encouraged to register now through Thursday, April 20 on the Volunteer tab at Volunteer.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org.

Volunteers registered for the cleanup will receive gloves, trash bags and safety vests to use for the cleanup, and a Christina River Watershed Cleanup reusable tote bag or a commemorative 30th anniversary t-shirt while supplies last. Registered volunteers are asked to document their findings on the submission link at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or they may use provided cards.

“Part of DNREC’s mission is to promote ways to keep Delaware’s great outdoors clean and free of trash, an effort that also aligns with Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign,” said Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition to encouraging Delawareans and visitors to clean up all year long, we strongly support organized one-day annual cleanups like the Christina River Watershed Cleanup to highlight the importance of keeping trash out of our landscapes and waterways, where it impacts water quality and wildlife, not just the view.”

“This is the 31st year for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, and we hope to collect – or surpass – our annual average of 800 volunteers collecting 15 tons of trash, from piles of tires and appliances to household items and uncountable pieces of plastic. With 12 cleanup sites this year, we are focused on restoring the health of the river and watersheds,” said Christina River Watershed Cleanup Coordinator Shirley Posey. “We invite everyone to come on out and join us for another environmentally successful cleanup on April 22.”

For a chance to win a 2023 Delaware State Parks annual pass, volunteers are encouraged to share cleanup photos as often as they like on @ChristinaCleanup; #ChristinaRiverCleanup; or @CRWCleanup. Each photo post counts as an entry. Information about the 2023 Christina River Watershed Cleanup will also be posted on social media at Facebook and Twitter.

Important Reminders for Cleanup Activities:

  • Know your limitations and be aware of possibly hazardous areas, including along roadways, streambanks, and steep or slippery slopes.
  • Dress appropriately for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots that can get dirty.
  • Always Recycle Right. Items with lots of dirt or grit attached or inside should be placed in the trash.
  • As encouraged by Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative, make every day a cleanup day — not just once a year — by packing a disposable bag and rubber gloves whenever you take a walk or go hiking, to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.

Avoid These Actions When Cleaning Up:

  • Don’t enter private property without permission of the landowner.
  • Don’t place yourself in any danger while volunteering for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup.
  • For any independent cleanup volunteers participating, don’t collect any trash that your household waste hauler might not accept. Tires, construction materials, and metal drums may be unacceptable.

More information can be found at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or by emailing ChristinaRiverCleanup@gmail.com.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DNREC Brandywine Watershed Report Details Wetland Health and Management Recommendations

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released a report and educational report card on the health of wetlands within Delaware’s portion of the Brandywine watershed, with wetlands earning a C+ grade with recommendations for improvement. Published by the DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program (WMAP), the report covers the Brandywine watershed, a combination of eight sub-watersheds. The Delaware part of the watershed resides in New Castle County, where it encompasses 72,969 acres (114 square miles) of land.

This northernmost watershed in Delaware is part of the Piedmont region and extends farther north into Pennsylvania. During the summer of 2019, environmental scientists from the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship collected data on the plants, hydrology and wetland buffer disturbances from 68 random sites within the Brandywine watershed. Using wetland stressor checklists and biological metrics, they determined the wetlands in the watershed to be in moderate condition, falling in the lower end of Delaware watersheds previously rated by DNREC. The WMAP scientists found the most common stressors to the Brandywine were fill, structures interrupting waterflow, and invasive species, development, roads and mowing in the surrounding landscape. More details about DNREC wetland health assessments can be found at de.gov/watershedhealth.

The report found approximately 3% of the land area of the Brandywine watershed is currently covered by wetlands. WMAP performed freshwater assessments in 14 flat wetlands, 24 riverine wetlands, 11 depression wetlands, and 19 seep wetlands using the Delaware Rapid Assessment Procedure (DERAP) Version 6.0, a data collection method created by DNREC environmental scientists, which is now available for use by professionals and the public. No tidal wetlands were assessed because there were very few tidal wetlands in the watershed, and those that were present occurred only in a couple of small areas. The watershed also contained some Category One wetlands, which are rare, unique, freshwater wetland types in Delaware.

DNREC’s data was used to create a technical report and a more user-friendly “watershed report card.” The technical report summarizes not only the health of the Brandywine watershed’s wetlands, but also examined the change in wetland acreage in recent decades; what value the wetlands provide; and how recent changes in land use will impact wetlands in the future. The report card condenses general information on the watershed, summarizes environmental indicators of wetland health, and showcases what the general public can do to help the future of the Brandywine watershed’s wetlands.

Mapping analysis estimated that by 2017, 26% of historic wetland acreage in the watershed had been lost, mostly due to human impacts such as development. On-the-ground assessments were used rate the health and function of remaining wetlands. Impacts to wetland health reduce a wetland’s ability to perform fully, diminishing its valuable role in controlling flooding and erosion; improving water quality; storing excess rainwater; and providing ecosystem services for both people and wildlife. In this watershed, wetlands overall received a C+ grade. Forested flats and groundwater seep wetland types received a class grade of B-, while riverine and depressions both received C grades, based on impacts mostly to the buffer habitat surrounding wetlands.

Based on the results of this study, DNREC made recommendations targeting scientists, public decision makers and landowners toward improving and enhancing the future health of Delaware’s wetlands. These recommendations included maintaining adequate wetland buffers, restoration activities, increasing education and outreach, using best management practices, suggesting that landowners protect wetlands on their property, and improving the protection of the watershed’s non-tidal wetlands for the future.

The DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program, funded by the U.S. EPA’s Region 3 Wetland Program Development grants, prepares wetland health reports for Delaware watersheds. Those reports, including the report for the Brandywine watershed, are found at de.gov/watershedhealth.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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


DNREC to Hold Rain Barrel Workshop April 9 in Blades

To Be Eligible For a Free Rain Barrel, Participants Must Live in Any of 12 Specified Delaware Watersheds

In conjunction with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s month-long celebration of Earth Day, DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship will host a rain barrel-building workshop on Saturday, April 9, at the Nanticoke River Marina, 26 Market Street, Blades, DE 19973.

Eligibility to participate in the workshop and receive a free rain barrel at the event is dependent on living in any of the following Delaware watersheds:

  • Appoquinimink Watershed
  • Broadkill Watershed
  • Chester Watershed
  • Choptank Watershed
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed/Basin (Anywhere within this basin)
  • Christina Watershed
  • Inland Bays Watershed
  • Little Assawoman Bay Watershed
  • Nanticoke Watershed
  • Pocomoke Watershed
  • St. Jones River Watershed
  • Wicomico Watershed

For potential participants to identify the watershed they live in, and confirm their eligibility to receive a free rain barrel from DNREC, visit DelawareWatersheds.org and follow the instructions for “Find Your Watershed.” Eligible Delawareans can then proceed to register for the workshop. The first 20 eligible participants to register for and attend the workshop will receive a free 55-gallon rain barrel system to be built during the workshop.

During the workshop, DNREC will provide free kits that convert plastic drums donated by Painted Stave Distilling of Smyrna into rain barrels. Workshop participants will be given an overview of rain barrels including their benefits, proper use, assembly, and maintenance. Among the benefits are rain barrels’ ability to store rainwater from rooftops that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams, thus helping improve the health of local waterways; and saving homeowners money on water use.

Staff from DNREC’s Nonpoint Source Program will lead the workshop. Participants may arrive at any time between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. for the workshop. The first 20 eligible participants to register for and attend the workshop will receive a free 55-gallon rain barrel system to be built during the workshop. Participants may bring family or friends to the workshop, but there is a limit of one rain barrel per eligible household.

Workshop participants can choose to construct their rain barrel with guidance or to be assisted by DNREC staff who will assemble the rain barrel for them. All supplies are provided, and the first 20 eligible Delawareans to register for and participate in the workshop will take home their free rain barrel.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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