June 5, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 257

Contact: David Carter, Delaware Coastal Program, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, 302-739-9283; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Regional Poll Shows Strong Support In Delaware
for Protecting the Environment

DOVER, Del., June 5 – More than 80 percent of Sussex County coastal residents place a high priority on protecting Delaware’s coastal resources and ocean – a finding released today in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Coastal Communities Poll conducted by the Urban Coast Institute and the Polling Institute at Monmouth University. The survey found that the level of support among Delawareans for coastal management initiatives is the highest in the region.

“The survey’s findings illustrate the high level of public support for strengthening our initiatives that protect Delaware’s coastal health and natural resources,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “The results further support the collaboration of Mid-Atlantic states for a proactive, integrated approach to coastal management that will address shared priorities unique to our region.”

Governors or their representatives from five coastal states, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, convened today at the meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Governors Ocean Summit – the first step towards developing a regional action plan to improve protection of coastal and ocean resources. The states will combine resources and influence and join forces on coastal challenges identified in the survey, such as adapting to climate change, improving water quality, protecting habitat and developing renewable energy technologies.

The survey, “Life on the Mid-Atlantic Coast 2009,” polled coastal community residents from the five-state region and gathered data on regional, as well as state-specific public opinions on protecting and managing ocean and coastal resources.

The survey found broad support among Delaware’s coastal residents for environmental protection efforts and clean energy technologies. Delawareans surveyed held high levels of support for reducing beach erosion and habitat loss in wetlands and coastal areas and demonstrated greater understanding of the likely impacts of climate change in the state. Coastal residents responded with the greatest support for offshore wind farms of any state surveyed – with 82 percent of Delawareans surveyed in favor of this green energy technology.

The survey found that Delaware and Maryland coastal residents are among the highest in the region who said they have a great deal of knowledge about coastal issues.

Continued Secretary O’Mara, “DNREC’s coastal management and training programs target the state’s diverse audiences – residents, elected officials, community groups, coastal businesses, land-use planners, and others. With input and involvement from all audiences and in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic initiative, we’ll continue to build on our efforts to address the priority concerns outlined in the survey, such as beach replenishment, open space protection and watershed management.”

Several state initiatives are underway to ensure clean coastal waters and beaches, protect and restore healthy ocean and coastal habitats, and reduce adverse impacts from development. These include: assessing vulnerabilities for sea level rise and strategy development; beach monitoring and water quality testing programs; coastal monitoring of water quality, weather and nutrients; statewide Tributary Action Teams, citizen groups that address water quality; the “Thank You Delaware Bay” initiative; Delaware Wetland Conservation Strategy; Special Area Management Planning; beach replenishment; coastal dune and habitat protection; artificial reef program; pollution reduction programs, including erosion and sediment control, non-point source pollution reduction and Delaware Clean Marina; flood mitigation and coastal storm response; scientific studies to monitor marsh changes and benthic mapping (submerged resources); and coastal training to provide up-to-date scientific information to individuals who make decisions that affect Delaware’s coastal resources.

The independent survey was conducted by the Urban Coast Institute and the Polling Institute at Monmouth University with partial funding through a federal grant from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

For more information contact David Carter, 302-739-9283 or see the survey online at http://www.monmouth.edu/polling/admin/polls/MidAtlanticCoastSurvey2009.pdf.