NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Dec. 30, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 568
For more information contact Jennifer Wheatley, Shoreline and Waterway Management Section, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, 302-739-9921, or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Protect Coastal Areas By Not Placing
Old Christmas Trees on Sand Dunes
Christmas Trees Can Be Recycled
DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section urges the public to protect Delaware’s ocean and bay coastal areas by not placing Christmas trees on sand dunes. Old trees left on dunes will kill beach grass and other vegetation and can destroy a sand dune.
“When dead trees and brush are added to a dune, beach grass and other vegetation can be smothered,” said Jennifer Wheatley, environmental scientist with DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section. “Beach grass that is damaged or destroyed cannot trap and hold sand, and wind erosion of the dune can occur. In addition, dead trees and brush are fire hazards, which can lead to the destruction of established dunes and wildlife habitat. By keeping Christmas trees off dunes, we help protect sand dunes which are so valuable to our coastal areas.”
Sand dunes protect coastal areas from storm surges, waves and wind. They are important to protect structures and property during storms by providing sand to eroding beaches and by blocking advancing water. Dunes reduce beach erosion, and therefore, protect wildlife habitat, property and lives.
DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section has worked for many years to establish and maintain dunes along Delaware’s coastline using sand fences and native vegetation. In addition, for the past 19 years, thousands of dedicated volunteers have joined DNREC’s annual beach grass planting event in an effort to protect sand dunes. To date, more than 4 million stems of Cape American beach grass have been planted on Delaware’s ocean and bay beaches. The 20th annual beach grass planting event is scheduled for March 21, 2009.
For more information, on shoreline and waterway management projects currently underway, visit www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Coastal Connection Newsletter – Winter 2009 issue.”
Instead of placing trees on dunes, old trees can be recycled at DNREC’s Brandywine Hundred, Polly Drummond Hill Road or DART Mid-County Community Yard Waste Drop-off sites in New Castle County or at Killens Pond, Trap Pond and Cape Henlopen State Parks. Trees and other greens, free of ornaments, wire and tinsel will be accepted Dec. 26 - Jan. 19 from Delaware residents only. No trees will be accepted from commercial haulers. For more information on DNREC’s Christmas tree recycling, including drop-off hours and directions, and for a list of private recyclers, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.
For more information on the state park tree recycling program, contact Gary Focht, 302-382-4616 or Gary.Focht@state.de.us. For information on yard waste drop-off sites and recycling alternatives, visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Recycling” or contact Rob Underwood, 302-739-9403; Robert.Underwood@state.de.us.
