NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

April 2, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 125

Contact:  Lyle Jones, Watershed Assessment Section, Division of Water Resources, 302-739-9939; Glenn “Wayne” McCarty, Kent County Division of Parks, 302-744-2489; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                             Celebrate Earth Day by Volunteering
                   at Dover’s Silver Lake Planting Event on April 25

Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering to plant native trees and shrubs along the banks of the tidal St. Jones River at Dover’s Silver Lake Park 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25.  The planting event, held rain or shine, is part of a two-year restoration plan that will reduce pollution and protect the banks of the river.

“Earth Day is the perfect time to get involved in a project that will help protect the environment,” said Lyle Jones, program manager with DNREC Watershed Assessment Section. “Our planting event will establish a buffer of native trees and shrubs that will improve water quality by reducing stormwater run-off, sediment and excess nutrients from entering the river. The project will improve the health of Silver Lake for years to come.”

Volunteers will work alongside staff from DNREC, the City of Dover, the St. Jones Greenway Commission, and Kent County Division of Parks and Recreation and plant more than 200 native trees, shrubs and flowering perennials. In addition, Kent County staff will clean up and restore a portion of the river bank that will serve as an outdoor science classroom for students at Dover Central Middle School.

Families, groups and volunteer organizations are encouraged to register by April 21, by contacting the City of Dover Parks and Recreation at 302-736-7050 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday). Volunteers can also register 8:30 a.m. on the day of the event at the project site. Every volunteer will receive a commemorative t-shirt, courtesy of DNREC’s Division of Water Resources.

Volunteers will meet at the Silver Lake parking lot located off Kings Highway in Dover. Beverages and equipment will be provided, and volunteers should bring their own gardening or work gloves, wear hard-soled, lace-up shoes or boots (no sneakers), and dress appropriately for outdoor work. If possible, volunteers are asked to bring a round-point shovel. A handicapped-accessible restroom will be available.

Funding for the project was made possible by the City of Dover and from federal grants obtained by DNREC’s Delaware Coastal and Nonpoint Source Pollution Programs. The native perennial plants were grown by Polytech High School’s environmental science class for planting within the buffer.

The event is the third planting in the Silver Lake Revitalization Project. At two previous events held last year, approximately 100 volunteers planted more than 200 trees and 400 shrubs on almost five acres of buffer along the banks of the St. Jones River.

The Silver Lake Revitalization Project was recommended as part of a pollution control strategy developed by the St. Jones Tributary Action Team, a group of concerned citizen volunteers, business owners and scientists. The project was initiated in 2007 with a public workshop and input from park neighbors that led to the restoration plan.

To learn more about efforts underway by the St. Jones Tributary Action Team to reduce pollution in the watershed, contact Lyle Jones at 302-739-9939 or visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/wr/Pages/Default.aspx.