NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Jan. 22, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 20

For more information contact, Jennifer Holmes, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, 302-739-3436; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                  Celebrate World Wetlands Day Feb. 7
              by Geocaching at Wetlands in Kent County
                                  Registration Required by Feb. 4

Explore Delaware’s exceptional wetlands at a geocaching event from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7 at several wetland areas in Kent County. The event, which celebrates World Wetlands Day, is free to adults and families. Participants will meet at the St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road near Dover and start their geocaching adventure using a GPS, or global positioning system, to navigate for caches, or containers, at wetland locations throughout Kent County.

“Geocaching is a wonderful way to explore Delaware’s wetlands,” said Jennifer Holmes, education coordinator with the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. “Our geocaching adventure is a fun-filled, hands-on activity that helps people discover the benefits and value of wetlands to our quality of life. We encourage families to join our event at St. Jones Reserve and celebrate World Wetlands Day with us.”

Registration is required by Feb. 4 by contacting Jennifer Holmes at 302-739-3436 or Jennifer.Holmes@state.de.us.  GPS units will be available for use during the event and instructions will be provided.

Wetlands are some of Delaware’s most valuable resources; they help improve water and air quality, protect property and lives from storms and flooding, provide food and shelter for wildlife species and nursery grounds for fish, and beautify our landscape. Delaware has lost approximately 50 percent of our wetland resources, primarily due to ditching and draining, direct conversion to agriculture and other human development efforts.

World Wetlands Day celebrates the adoption of the Convention of Wetlands, a treaty that conserves and protects wetlands and their resources worldwide. The treaty, which was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, designated wetland sites throughout the world as “wetlands of international significance.” In 1992, the Delaware Bay Estuary received Ramsar designation, because the wetland associated with the estuary provides critical resting and feeding areas for migratory shore and wading birds.

Delaware’s World Wetlands Day celebration is being held Saturday, Feb. 7 to encourage more participation and raise public awareness. The event is a collaborative effort among DNREC’s  Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Division of Water Resources Watershed Assessment Section, and Division of Fish and Wildlife; New Castle County 4-H; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is a cooperative program between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Delaware Coastal Programs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The goal of the program is to establish, protect and manage natural estuarine habitats for research and education. DNERR consists of two main components, the Blackbird Creek and St. Jones Reserves. These sites include both brackish and freshwater estuaries and represent the diverse estuarine ecosystems found throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Estuaries are where freshwater from rivers and streams meet with saltwater from oceans and seas. For more information on DNERR and education programs offered, visit the Division of Soil and Water Conservation web site, http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/, then click on “Estuary Research.”