NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Vol. 40, No. 334
For more information contact Beth Shockley, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
DNREC showcases coastal and natural resources
at Coast Day in Lewes on Oct. 3
LEWES (Sept. 29) –Delaware’s coastal and natural resources will be showcased at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Coast Day education tent, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3 on the campus of the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes. Coast Day – celebrating its 34th year – is the University of Delaware’s annual end-of-summer event that attracts an estimated 10,000 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 Delaware Department of Natural Resources Secretary Collin O’Mara. “We are pleased to partner with the University of Delaware in helping residents from across the state learn more about our incredible natural resources as well as the need to protect our coast, adopt clean renewable sources of energy and confront the challenges of climate change.”
The Coast Day theme, “Making the Most of Our Coast,” will be prominently showcased with displays and information in the DNREC tent. An interactive web-based exhibit on Sea Level Rise will be the highlight of the exhibit by Delaware Coastal Programs. Visitors can also learn more about the many coastal programs offered by the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve located at the St. Jones and Blackbird Creek Reserves.
Take an “Estuary Eco Challenge” as part of the DuPont Nature Center’s exhibit, “Peace, Love and Horseshoe Crabs II,” which features live horseshoe crabs that highlight the valuable roles of horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds in Delaware’s coastal ecosystem.
Several exhibits highlight energy and pollution prevention programs. The Division of Energy and Climate will feature information about renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Other exhibits focus on Delaware’s biodiversity and natural resources, including information about Delaware wetlands and inland bays – complete with a rain garden display, along with a display on private lands restoration, adopt-a-wetland, water supply and groundwater protection, and managing wells and septic systems. Other projects featured include Outdoor Delaware magazine, debris pits remediation, mosquito control programs, and the ecological importance of bats in our state.
DNREC's Environmental Crimes Unit will feature a display on the new TrashStoppers campaign to curtail Delaware's illegal trash dumping. DNREC’s Fish and Wildlife enforcement will feature its Operation Game Theft trailer, including seized illegal hunting equipment, taxidermy mounts, wildlife enforcement case photos and a new video on the program that promotes citizen reporting of violations of the state’s wildlife laws.
A new display on Delaware’s Artificial Reef Program will feature a preview of the sinking of the Radford, the longest ship to ever be sunk in the Atlantic. Also, docked nearby, DNREC’s Fisheries vessel, “First State,” will be open for tours. The ship is used by agency scientists for marine research, including the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project.
Other displays include information on Delaware’s coastal dune and habitat protection program, DNREC’s Scrap Tire Program, shorebird and other wildlife monitoring, boating safety, coastal greenways and trails, the Indian River Marina, and the Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park.
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.
