NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

October 6, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 456

Contact: David Carter or Bonnie Arvay, Delaware Coastal Programs, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, (302) 739-9283 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                      Natural Resource Management Grants Available for Local Governments
                                                                       Proposals Due to DNREC by Nov. 18

DOVER, Del. – DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs announced today that $80,000 in competitive grants are available to county and municipal governments to incorporate natural resources and coastal management (for example, coastal hazards and public access) into local planning and permitting activities. The funds are to be used by local jurisdictions for activities that conserve, manage and promote habitat and natural resources in Delaware. The deadline for submission of Request for Proposals (RFP) is Nov. 18.

Grant funds are available for the following purposes:

• Preparation of local or regional plans aimed at reducing the impacts of sea level rise and flooding.  These plans should address issues of land use and growth, emergency services and public safety, critical facilities, resistance to storm impacts and related coastal resiliency.
   
• Development of site specific tools designed to assess vulnerability or impacts risk of sea level rise or increased flooding to developed areas, infrastructure, or natural resources and habitat.

• Development of local ordinances that incorporate coastal management issues and/or help protect natural resources and habitat.
   
• Completion of natural resource and habitat assessments (including GIS mapping and analysis of natural resources) when this work is being completed to enable a local jurisdiction to identify and conserve critical resource areas or important landscape characteristics.

Details of the grant program, the full Request for Proposals, application criteria and forms are available online at: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/coastal/Pages/CoastalProgramRFP.aspx

A Grant Writing Workshop will be offered Oct. 21 by the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve to explain the grant program and assist applicants with project proposals and writing techniques. Potential applicants, particularly those with limited grant experience, are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop. Workshop details are provided in the RFP, which can be found at the web site listed above.

Grant recipients will be notified in December regarding their award.

Delaware Coastal Programs, part of DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation, administers the Delaware Coastal Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve. The two programs have been integrated, offering a comprehensive approach to coastal management, research and education.

For additional information please contact David Carter or Bonnie Arvay at (302) 739-9283.