DNREC showcases coastal and natural
resources Oct. 2 at Coast Day in Lewes  

LEWES (Sept. 29, 2011) –Delaware’s coastal and natural resources will be showcased at DNREC’s Coast Day education tent, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 on the campus of the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes. Coast Day – celebrating its 35^th year – is the university’s annual end-of-summer event that attracts thousands of people from Delaware and throughout the region.

 “Coast Day celebrates Delaware’s coastal resources and brings partners together who are committed to preserving our beaches, waterways and ocean for future generations,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “We are excited to partner with the University of Delaware in helping promote our state’s incredible natural resources and also call attention to the need to protect our coast, adopt clean renewable sources of energy and confront the challenges of climate change.”

The Coast Day theme, “It’s About You,” will be prominently showcased with displays and information in the DNREC tent. Visitors can:

• Learn about sea-level rise and enjoy a hands-on Discovery Lab with your family
• Stop by Delaware’s Artificial Reef Program Display – featuring video and a slide show of the largest vessel ever reefed in the Atlantic Ocean, the ex-destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford, as it went down onto the Del-Jersey-Land Reef.
• Explore items, from turtle shells to shark teeth, that represent creatures found in Cape Henlopen State Park. 
• See plans for the future Cape Henlopen State Park museum.
• Learn more about DNREC’s “TrashStoppers” campaign to curtail and eliminate illegal trash dumping throughout the state.
• Improve your understanding of Delaware’s wetlands and inland bays.
• See how private lands restoration and Adopt-A-Wetland Programs are positively impacting Delaware’s environment.
• Learn how to put renewable energy and energy efficiency to work for you.
• Understand what we’re doing to control mosquitos and how bats are being impacted by “White Noise Syndrome.”
• View a septic system display and discuss on-site waste water treatment and disposal systems with experts.
• Learn about the Delaware Septic Loan Rehabilitation Program that assists  homeowners with the costs of repairing or replacing septic systems.
• Check out the award-winning Outdoor Delaware magazine and learn how to access it online.  

The DNREC tent, located on the campus between the Smith and Cannon buildings, includes more than 35 displays and exhibits featuring the agency’s diverse programs designed to conserve and protect Delaware’s natural resources and encourage public participation through hands-on activities and educational games that appeal to both adults and children. DNREC has exhibited at Coast Day since its inception in 1976. 

Vol. 41, No. 376