NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Oct. 8, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 461
Contact: Lyle Jones, Division of Water Resources, Watershed Assessment, 302-739-9939; City of Dover Parks and Recreation, 302-736-7050; or Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Volunteer and “Dig in” on Nov. 1 at Dover’s Silver Lake Park Planting Event
Sign up by Oct. 24
DOVER, Del. – Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1 to help plant trees and shrubs that will create a buffer along the banks of the St. Jones River in Dover.
All adults and teens are welcome to participate and “dig in” alongside our friendly team of DNREC watershed scientists and City of Dover Parks and Recreation staff on a project that will not only beautify Silver Lake Park, but will help reduce stormwater run-off, erosion, sediment and excess nutrients from entering the river. In the event of rain, the planting will be held Nov. 8.
Volunteers are asked to sign up by Monday, Oct. 24 by contacting City of Dover Parks and Recreation at 302-736-7050
(9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday).
Volunteers will plant 50 native trees provided by funds donated by NRG Energy. In addition almost 600 native shrubs purchased from a federal non-point source pollution grant will be planted as a buffer along the banks of the lake.
Volunteers should meet in the Silver Lake parking lot located off Kings Highway in Dover. Lunch, beverages and equipment will be provided, and volunteers may bring their own gardening gloves.
The event is the second planting in phase one of the Silver Lake Revitalization Project. At the first planting event, held April 26, more than 50 volunteers planted 45 trees. Next spring, native perennial flowers will be planted along the banks of the St. Jones River.
The Silver Lake Revitalization Project was recommended by the St. Jones Tributary Action Team, a group of concerned citizen volunteers, business owners and scientists, who recommended the restoration as part of a pollution control strategy developed by the team. The project was kicked-off in 2007 with a public workshop and input from park neighbors that led to a two-year restoration plan that will help improve water quality and protect the banks of the St. Jones River.
To learn more about efforts underway by the St. Jones Tributary Team to reduce pollution in the watershed, contact Lyle Jones, program administrator, 739-9939 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Division of Water Resources” and then “Watershed Assessment.”
