(Wilmington) The Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley and David Agnew, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs visited Wilmington today to get a firsthand look at a wetlands restoration and mitigation project site that will restore 22-acres of wetlands in the Southbridge neighborhood of South Wilmington. Governor Markell, Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara, Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams, and local legislators, including Hanifa Shabazz, Wilmington City Council, 4th District, highlighted plans for the project that will reduce flooding in one of the most economically-challenged communities in the state.
The visit came on the heels of the President’s announcement last Friday of a Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience that will advise the Administration on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities dealing with impacts of climate change. Governor Markell was one of eight Governors appointed by President to serve on the Task Force.
In September, Governor Markell signed Executive Order 41 which requires all state agencies to incorporate measures for adapting to more extensive storms, increased flood heights and sea level rise in the siting and design of projects for construction of new structures and reconstruction of substantially damaged structures and infrastructure.

Quotes from officials during today’s visit:
Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality: Climate change is changing the frequency and intensity of flooding, wildfires, storms, and heat waves and threatening our health. This project is critical to protecting this community from future floods. It’s fitting to be here in Delaware because of the leadership of the Governor, the Natural Resources Secretary and the Mayor to take action to protect communities from potentially destructive climate impacts. We can count on Delaware for innovative ideas.
David Agnew, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs:“The President believes we have a moral obligation to leave this planet better than we found it. Across America, states, cities and communities are innovating and making the changes they need to deal with the effects of extreme weather and other climate impacts. The Governor’s Executive Order is a great example of what states are doing. Intergovernmental cooperation is key to help ensure the federal government is doing all we can to support these efforts.”
Governor Markell: As the lowest-lying coastal state in the nation, Delaware is extremely vulnerable to climate impacts. We have a long history of challenges from erosion and flooding, which will be exacerbated by more intense storms and rising sea levels. In Southbridge, we have seen record flooding that has forced evacuations and temporary closure of some businesses. While there have been flooding challenges in Southbridge for many years, more frequent storms and heavier precipitation are making things worse. We are focused on taking strategic actions that will help transition Delaware from a position of vulnerability to one of preparedness and resilience.
Collin O’Mara, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control: “This is a perfect example of the type of project we need to encourage across the state and country. We are creatively working across governments to leverage existing resources to restore wetlands so they will absorb flood waters and protect this community from water damage. We will see more intense storms, greater precipitation, higher heat waves, and accelerated sea level rise that will affect communities like this one. States that prepare for climate impacts will be the most competitive in the years ahead.

The first meeting of the President’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience will take place in December.

Photos of the event can be viewed on Flickr

HARRINGTON (July 25, 2013) – Today at the Delaware State Fair, Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and U.S. EPA Region III Administrator Shawn M. Garvin honored Terry Higgins of Marydel with the 2013 Delaware Wetland Warrior Award for his lifelong efforts to conserve, restore and educate Delaware residents on the need for and importance of wetlands.

 “Wetlands contribute to the quality of life in Delaware by providing storage for floodwaters and protecting us from coastal storms, providing habitat for wildlife species, and purifying water by removing pollutants and nutrients from runoff. Efforts to protect, restore, and better understand processes affecting wetlands are critical to enable the continuation of the economically valuable services provided by wetlands,” said Secretary O’Mara. “We are proud to recognize Terry Higgins for his important contributions to protecting and understanding this vital natural resource.”

The Wetland Warrior Award, now in its sixth year, is presented annually to a citizen, organization, or business that has demonstrated exemplary efforts to benefit Delaware wetlands in the areas of outreach and education, monitoring and assessment, or restoration and protection.

“Often when we hear about wetlands, it’s about their decline, but this award focuses on recognizing individuals who are working to make a positive change in wetland health in Delaware,” said Maggie Pletta, DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program. “Terry Higgins has set a great example of encouraging stewardship of our resources and educating young people on the value of wetlands.”

Higgins is a professor emeritus from Wesley College in Dover, where he served in the science department for 40 years, mentoring and educating more than 8,000 students. While at Wesley, he also became involved in the school’s environmental advocacy club, Team Cannon, monitoring the wetlands at Camden’s Brecknock Park.

After his retirement from Wesley in 2000, Higgins continued his commitment to wetlands as the Kent County volunteer coordinator for Delaware’s Adopt-A-Wetland Program. Through his initiative and mentoring, numerous volunteer groups have become informed and engaged wetland caretakers.

Not only did Higgins encourage others to restore and protect wetlands, he and his family recently preserved a 10-acre forested wetland site in the Choptank River Watershed.

During today’s annual DNREC Awards ceremony at the State Fair, Higgins also received DNREC’s Outstanding Volunteer Award for Conservation and Restoration for his work in environmental education and wetlands conservation in Delaware.

“For more than five decades of his life and career, Terry Higgins has passed on his knowledge, passion, wisdom and commitment to Delaware’s wetlands in countless ways,” said Delaware Adopt-a-Wetland Program Administrator Gary Kreamer. “On the occasion of his well-earned retirement from volunteer service, this award honors his lifelong legacy to Delaware’s natural resources.”

After decades of teaching and practicing environmental science, Higgins continues to find wetlands a fascinating area of study, from the biodiversity they support to the vital role they play in our daily lives. “There are so many important facets of wetlands that affect more than just the organisms that live there: protection from storm surges, absorbing excess nutrients and – though I feel this is not yet completely studied or understood – the unique ability of wetlands to filter out various pollutants,” he said.

Higgins’ widely-known passion for conserving and protecting wetlands and for urging others along the same path also continues unabated. “Wetlands have an amazing ability to restore and right themselves if we just stop impacting them. They are pretty amazing, and we need to do whatever we have to do to let them do what they were created to do,” he said.

Next year’s call for nominations will be posted in the spring on the Delaware Wetlands website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/DelawareWetlands. 

 For details about past Delaware Wetland Warriors please visit:  http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/DelawareWetlands/Pages/WetlandWarriors.aspx

DOVER (April 9, 2013) – DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program is seeking nominations for the 2013 Delaware Wetland Warrior Award, which recognizes exemplary efforts to protect wetlands and the critical services they provide to all Delawareans.

The Wetland Warrior award, now in its sixth year, is presented annually to a citizen, organization, business or group that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to benefit Delaware wetlands through outreach and education, monitoring and assessment, or restoration and protection. The award will be presented on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 25, at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Information on submitting a nomination is available on DNREC’s Delaware Wetlands web page. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, June 21. For more information, please contact Wetland Outreach Specialist Maggie Pletta at 302-739-9939, or email Margaret.Pletta@delaware.gov.

“The award recognizes wetland stewards who have made an effort to help ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the natural services provided by wetlands that contribute to our quality of life including clean water, flood and storm protection, and wildlife habitat,” said Pletta. “Wetland Warriors are Delaware’s environmental heroes – who work tirelessly to slow wetland loss, help restore degraded wetlands, preserve habitat, increase awareness of the value of wetlands and bolster support for their protection.”

The 2012 Wetland Warrior recipients were:

• Clif Bakhsh of Middletown, a member of Delaware Ducks Unlimited’s Appoquinimink Chapter who has been active for more than 25 years in numerous local and national roles, was recognized for his dedication to preserving open space in Delaware and to educating children about the benefits of wetlands.
• David Carter, a biologist and wetland professional with DNREC for more than 25 years, was recognized for his use of innovative planning and funding tools to improve the management and protection of wetlands in the state, as well as supporting outreach and education initiatives such as Thank You Delaware Bay.

For a complete list of past recipients, visit DNREC’s Wetland Warrior Page.

Delaware has more than 320,000 acres of wetlands, comprising about 25 percent of the state’s area. Wetlands protect lives and property from the impacts of floods and storms, filter pollutants and improve water quality, reduce erosion and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Almost every part of our state is within one mile of a wetland – making wetland protection vital to our health and safety.

DNREC studies indicate that over the past 15 years, more than 3,896 acres of wetlands were lost statewide due to conversion to other land uses. This acreage is significant because in the previous 10-year period, the total statewide wetland loss was 1,996 acres. These recent trends make recognizing the conservationists who have prioritized wetlands even more important. It is through natural resource stewards, such as Wetland Warrior, that Delaware will protect its natural treasures.

Check out the “How You Can Help” webpage to learn more about opportunities to protect wetlands. Here you can find the Wetland Public Participation Guidebook, a comprehensive resource developed to inspire citizens to take actions to protect wetlands. Also featured is the latest information on wetland health, wetland loss studies, regulations, wetland impacts and how they can be prevented, and how the public can get involved with local land use decisions that could affect wetlands. Also on the webpage is a new wetlands video highlighting wetland benefits, Purify, Provide, and Protect.  

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 137

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PORT PENN – A key coastal wetland property, part of the Thousand Acre Marsh near Port Penn, will be conserved thanks to a $829,400 federal grant awarded to DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife through the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. The grant will be used, along with matching funds from the state Open Space Program and private contributions, to acquire a 194-acre property, bringing a total of 388 acres of the Thousand Acre Marsh under permanent protection. The conservation of the property protects and expands access to the globally significant wildlife habitat within the Delaware Bayshore and supports President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative by providing new recreational opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and learn about nature.

“Conserving and protecting this unique coastal wetland enhances the state’s natural resources and boosts our economy by encouraging more Delawareans and visitors to enjoy our state as a world-class birding and wildlife-watching destination,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This project ensures a diverse natural legacy for future generations.”

Acquisition of this property was a key priority of DNREC’s new Delaware Bayshore Initiative, which builds on the state’s long-term commitment to conserving our coastal zone and on the Delaware Bay shoreline’s reputation as a unique and beautiful natural resource. The Bayshore Initiative’s goals also include helping the local economy by encouraging Delawareans and visitors to enjoy the area through low-impact activities, such as birding, fishing, hunting, boating and ecotourism. The addition of this property enhances the management of the Augustine Wildlife Management Area, which is located at the northern end of the Delaware Bay. The Delaware Bayshore, extending from Delaware City to Lewes, is widely recognized for its expansive coastal marshes, bay beaches, agricultural lands and forests which provide diverse habitat to many species.

The new property includes approximately 145 acres of wetlands and 40 acres of forested uplands. With this property, the Augustine Wildlife Management Area, including the Thousand Acre Marsh, will total 2,770 protected acres. The Thousand Acre Marsh provides habitat for thousands of breeding and wintering waterfowl, serving as a stopover for migratory birds during spring and fall and as breeding grounds for waterbirds, as well as habitat for fish and muskrats. Protection of the property will help safeguard habitat for 10 species listed as State Endangered, as well as protecting foraging habitat for one of the largest and most diverse heronries on the east coast and critical wintering habitat for the bald eagle.

The new property also will provide public access to the southern portion of the Thousand Acre Marsh for wildlife-related recreation and viewing. Plans include building a platform for bird watching with interpretive signage, blinds for duck hunters and enhancing an existing walking path along the edge of the woodland and fields.

“For a small state like Delaware, it is vital that we work to conserve our precious lands and natural resources, including our wetlands and coastal areas. Preserving Delaware’s lands and natural habitat has been something that I have been committed to since I was Governor, including my work to help establish the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Program, and preservation remains an issue that I am committed to today,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “This grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services will enable Delaware not only to safeguard critical fish and wildlife habitat along the Thousand Acre Marsh in New Castle County, but also to provide Delawareans and Americans of all ages the opportunity to explore the treasured landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife of the First State.”

“The Thousand Acre Marsh is a treasured resource for Delaware’s natural environment and has been a source of great pride for the First State,” U.S. Senator Chris Coons said. “By expanding this area, we will work to further preserve this richly diverse habitat for future generations to enjoy. I look forward to continuing my work with the Department of the Interior and with President Obama to ensure the conservation of Delaware’s wildlife.”

“Delaware is blessed to have a beautiful natural habitat for both residents and visitors to enjoy,” said U.S. Congressman John Carney. “It is our responsibility to care for these resources and ensure that future generations have the same opportunity. The coastal wetland property that will be preserved through this federal grant is home to many species of fish, waterfowl, and birds, including the bald eagle. I’m excited that DNREC will now be able to undertake this project, and look forward to the improvements that will make it easier to enjoy this beautiful part of our state.”

“This National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant builds on public-private partnerships and will help transform Delaware’s Bayshore into a world-class conservation and recreational area,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “By leveraging federal, state and private resources to meet the goals of our Delaware Bayshore Initiative, we are connecting wildlife areas to urban centers and enhancing public recreational access to our precious natural resources.”

The Delaware grant was part of $20.5 million in grants announced by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support 24 projects in 13 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. The grants will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups. The grants will be used to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. States receiving funds include Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

“Coastal wetlands serve as some of nature’s most productive fish and wildlife habitat while providing storm protection, improved water quality, and abundant recreational opportunities for local communities,” Salazar said. “I am pleased that with these grants we are able to help our state partners implement some of their high-priority projects that support both conservation and recreation along their coasts.”

Delaware’s matching cost share for the grant is anticipated to be approximately $500,000 in state Open Space Program funds and partner contributions. Two conservation partner groups that plan to support the project are the Delmarva Ornithological Society and the Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

“The Delmarva Ornithological Society is honored to partner with DNREC in the acquisition of this property within the Thousand Acre Marsh, a historically vibrant environment for migratory and breeding birds and a Top Ten birder’s hotspot within Delaware. The DOS funding comes from monies raised through the 4th Annual Delaware Bird-A-Thon in 2010, an event that involves numerous Delawareans and others throughout the United States in an effort to raise funds to protect vital migratory bird habitat. This wonderful acquisition matches the mission and the efforts of the Bird-A-Thon organizers and participants,” said Bill Stewart, DOS Conservation Committee Chair.

“The Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, along with other partners, recently completed a Delaware Basin-wide conservation framework with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to identify the best places for the protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity within the watershed. As part of this initiative the protection of wetland complexes including those at Thousand Acre Marsh were identified as priority places for protection and restoration. A big tip of the hat to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife professionals for reaching out to partners on this project and for successfully competing at the national level to secure this grant. It will be money well spent and conservation will be well served,” said Andrew Manus, Acting State Director and Director of Conservation Programs for The Nature Conservancy in Delaware.

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue – money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.

The grants support President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors. A recent 50-State Report from the U.S. Department of the Interior lists 100 of the country’s most promising projects – a result of 50 meetings with governors and stakeholders held by Salazar and other senior Interior officials to solicit ideas on how to best implement America’s Great Outdoors Initiative in their states – including the Delaware Bayshore Initiative. To view the full report, click here.