NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

March 12, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 87

Contact:  Lyle Jones, Division of Water Resources, 302-739-9939; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                        Mispillion Watershed Tributary Action Team Is Being Formed
                                 and Seeks Volunteers; First Meeting Set for March 18

A Tributary Action Team for the Mispillion watershed located in the Milford area is being formed and seeks local residents and business owners to attend its first meeting 6 p.m., Wednesday March 18 at the Milford Parks and Recreation Department off Franklin Street in Milford. All are welcome.

The Mispillion Tributary Action Team, a volunteer group of concerned citizens, business owners, legislators, scientists and other stakeholders, will meet regularly for approximately 16 – 18 months and develop recommendations for a pollution control strategy that will improve water quality in the watershed. The watershed runs from the headwaters of the Mispillion River, through the City of Milford to the Delaware Bay and includes: the Mispillion River; Blairs Pond; Cedar Creek; Griffith, Haven and Silver Lakes; and their tributaries.

At the first meeting, DNREC scientists will present information on the Tributary Action Team process, introduce project partners and discuss the roles of team members.

According to Lyle Jones, environmental program manager with DNREC’s Division of Water Resources, water pollution is a difficult, complex problem, that needs to be addressed.  “Water quality in our streams and lakes is affected by so many human activities – development, lawn fertilizing, septic system use, farming practices – just to name a few. We need to act now to improve the health of our waterways so we can continue to enjoy them for years to come.”

More than 90 percent of Delaware's waterways are considered impaired and do not meet water quality standards for their designated uses, such as recreation, fishing, or drinking. Impaired waters could be suffering from excess nutrients, low dissolved oxygen, toxins, bacteria, heat or any combination of these problems.

Delaware has more than 100 Tributary Action Team members for the state’s four major watersheds. Members learn about water quality and the problems unique to their watershed, its population and land-use. Seven teams have formed – Appoquinimink, Broadkill, Christina, Inland Bays, Murderkill, Nanticoke, and St. Jones – and have successfully developed pollution control strategies that will remove more than 8500 pounds of nitrogen and 150 pounds of phosphorus from Delaware waterways.

For more information on water quality and Delaware’s Tributary Action Teams, visit http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/water2000/Sections/Watershed/ws/index.htm.