NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
March 19, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 78
Contact: Rebecca Rothweiler, Wetlands Outreach Specialist, 302-739-9939; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
New public participation guidebook provides actions to protect Delaware’s wetlands
A new guidebook is now available that will help Delawareans protect and conserve our state’s vital wetlands. Just released, the Wetlands Public Participation Guidebook is a comprehensive resource developed to educate and inspire citizens to take actions to protect the health and productivity of the more than 350,000 acres of wetlands that cover our state.
Wetlands are directly tied to the quality of life in Delaware. They are important to our health and safety by protecting lives and property from the impacts of floods and storms, filtering pollutants and improving water quality, reducing erosion and providing critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Almost every part of our state is within one mile of a wetland – providing irreplaceable services for our health and well-being.
“Public involvement is the key to protecting Delaware’s wetlands. There are ways that citizens can make real impacts beyond their own backyards and contribute to land use decisions on the community level,” said Rebecca Rothweiler, wetlands outreach specialist “With our state’s wetlands disappearing at an alarming rate, we developed the guidebook as a comprehensive resource for Delawareans – with detailed information on the ways citizens can get involved, take actions, and make a difference in protecting our wetlands.”
“We hope that the information in this new guidebook will empower citizens to work with us to protect the remaining wetlands in the Inland Bays watershed and throughout our state” said Sally Boswell, education and outreach coordinator at the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.
The guidebook, developed by DNREC’s Watershed Assessment Section and the Center for the Inland Bays through funding provided by the U.S. EPA, outlines opportunities for public involvement in land use decisions that can impact wetlands. The guidebook provides background information about wetland types, values, losses, and habitats at risk.
Also included is information on: wetland regulations and responsible agencies; contact information to report suspected violations; land use decision-making processes that occur at the state and county levels; information and locations on public notifications; and procedures to review land use plans and submit comments. The guidebook also provides tables listing land use activities, their associated wetland impacts and steps that citizens can take to reduce harmful impacts to the environment.
The guidebook is available online on DNREC’s new Delaware Wetlands webpage, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/admin/DelawareWetlands.
Preliminary findings of the Delaware Wetland Status and Trends report released by DNREC in January found that wetland loss has accelerated in Sussex County – primarily due to increases in residential and commercial development and agricultural activities. According to the report, a total of 2,647 acres of wetlands were lost in Sussex County over the past 15 years – a significant increase considering that in the 10-year period ending in 1992, the total statewide wetland loss was 1,990 acres.
The Delaware Wetlands webpage, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/admin/DelawareWetlands includes the latest information on wetland health, research, wetland loss studies, regulations, wetland restoration and programs and activities available for volunteers, landowners and students. A new wetlands video – “Purify, Provide and Protect” that highlights wetland benefits – can also be accessed on the webpage. For more information, contact, Rebecca Rothweiler, 302-739-9939.
