July 29, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 262

For further information, contact Rebecca Rothweiler, Wetlands Outreach Specialist, 302-739-9939, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

DNREC honors Georgetown ecologist
Peter Martin as 2010 Wetland Warrior

Today at the Delaware State Fair, Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara honored the 2010 Wetland Warrior, ecologist Peter Martin of Georgetown, for his tireless pursuit of restoring the largest freshwater wetland that remains in Delaware, the Great Cypress Swamp near the Maryland line in southern Sussex County. 

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

“The Great Cypress Swamp is a treasure to Delaware, and thanks to Pete Martin, Delawareans will be able to enjoy the benefits that this vast wetland provides for years to come,” said Amy Jacobs, leader of DNREC’s Wetlands Team. 

Pete currently serves as interim director of Delaware Wild Lands Inc., a non-profit charitable corporation dedicated to purchasing lands for preservation, management, and protection in Delaware. The group now holds more than 19,000 acres, including 10,700 acres of the once 85,000-acre Great Cypress Swamp, home to the northernmost stand of bald cypress in the United States. Pete has spent his career working to consolidate ownership of the Cypress Swamp by Delaware Wild Lands, along with restoring the hydrology and plant communities that historically occupied the area.

In the past four years, the natural hydrological movement and distribution of water on the surface and in the soil has been restored to more than 1,000 acres of wetlands in the Cypress Swamp. In addition, 25,000 Atlantic white cedar trees have been planted, with another 50,000 planned for spring 2011 planting. These projects will enhance the condition of the Great Cypress Swamp and protect the important wetland services it provides to the citizens and visitors of Delaware. These services include providing unique habitat for plants and animals, improving air quality by storing carbon in the trees and soils, cleaning of water as nutrients are removed before entering the ground water, and storing water in the headwaters of the Pocomoke and Inland Bays, thereby reducing flooding downstream. 

As part of Pete’s and Delaware Wild Lands’ efforts to improve the condition of the Cypress Swamp, they are also integrating their practices with efforts to support the local economy and educate local children, adults and professionals. Pete has been actively involved in developing facilities at the Wild Lands-owned Roman Fisher Farm adjacent to the Swamp for wetland ecology education, professional development, and research. Additionally, the Cypress Swamp project has integrated the use of certified sustainable forestry operations with wetland restorations to provide a model for long-term forestry practices that balance income and protecting forest ecosystems.

Pete’s collaborative efforts have led to obtaining funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, the Center for Inland Bays and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Pete attributes the progress and success of the ongoing work in the Cypress Swamp to collaborations and teamwork with these organizations, as well as DNREC – and he enjoys being part of that team.

“It’s very rewarding to think that some of the things we are doing today will be around for generations to come. We are making a long-term commitment to future generations,” Pete said.

For more information about Delaware Wild Lands and their work with the Great Cypress Swamp, please visit http://www.delawarewildlands.org/.