NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

July 8, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 230

Contact: Sara Wozniak, DNREC Watershed Assessment, 302-382-0335; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Public Forum set for July 20 on the revised Appoquinimink Pollution Control Strategy and actions to protect the river

Residents of southern New Castle County, including Middletown, Odessa, Townsend and surrounding areas, are invited to a public forum that unveils the revised Appoquinimink Pollution Control Strategy and related actions that will help preserve and protect the Appoquinimink River and its tributaries. The forum will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 20 at the Middletown Town Hall, 19 W. Green Street in Middletown.

At the public forum, residents can learn more about the revised Pollution Control Strategy that includes voluntary actions to reduce the amount of pollution entering the River.

 “Residents can take actions in their own backyards and homes that will have tremendous impacts on the water quality of the River and watershed,” said Sara Wozniak, regional watershed coordinator. “The forum is designed to engage citizens in everyday activities, such as lawn care and water conservation, that will lead to a cleaner, healthier Appoquinimink.”

The forum includes a short movie, “Who Will Care for the Appoquinimink” that was produced to highlight water quality and the need for a strategy to control pollution. Exhibit tables will include information on actions residents can do to reduce pollution, conserve natural resources and protect water quality. Free soil test kits will be available to the first fifty residents, and there will be a raffle to win a rain barrel. Residents can also pick up pet waste collection bags to help manage dog wastes in their communities.

Developed by the Appoquinimink Tributary Action Team, the revised Pollution Control Strategy details pollution limits, known as total maximum daily loads or TMDLs, and the strategy for reducing pollution. The Team is composed of citizens, educators, landowners, farmers, scientists, and elected officials who care about the quality of the water in the watershed.

For more information on the public forum, contact Sara Wozniak at 302-382-0335.