NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
March 26, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 88
Contact: Tom Moran, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-836-2555, ext. 103; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Volunteer for the Christina River
Cleanup set for April 10
Register Online by April 7
The Christina River Watershed Cleanup, the volunteer event to remove trash and debris along the Christina River and several of its tributaries, will be held from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday, April 10. Volunteers are encouraged to register to work at one of eleven sites throughout northern New Castle County, from north Wilmington to just south of Newark.
“More than 75 percent of the public water supply for New Castle County is provided by the Christina River and its tributaries, including the White Clay and Naamans Creeks,” said Thomas Moran, DNREC’s representative on the cleanup committee. “The cleanup is vitally important to the health and cleanliness of the river, and we encourage volunteers – families, clubs, youth groups, and anyone interested in protecting our waterways – to register and help us collect trash that is polluting our watershed.”
The annual cleanup, now in its 19th year, will be held rain or shine. Since the cleanup began in 1992, more than 330 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and uncountable pieces of plastic and styrofoam have been cleared from the Christina River, White Clay Creek and various other tributaries.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has been a sponsor and an integral part of the Christina River Watershed Cleanup since its inception, providing funding and other support. Specifically, DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife provides staff, boats, and specialized equipment to move volunteers and remove trash from remote locations. The cleanup of the river within the city of Wilmington benefits the Division’s ongoing marsh restoration work at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.
For a list of cleanup sites with directions and to register, visit www.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org or call 302-838-1897. Registration is encouraged before April 7th, so adequate supplies can be provided to each site captain. Due to insurance requirements, volunteers under the age of sixteen must have adult supervision.
Experience has shown that it is advisable for participants to consider utilizing brightly-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants, boots or water-resistant shoes, hats, heavy-duty gloves, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Waders or hip boots are also useful for the city of Wilmington and Churchman’s Marsh - Christiana and Newport sites. Additional jon-boat-type work boats are still needed for Wilmington’s Riverfront and East 7th Street locations, as well as the Churchman’s Marsh areas. All participants must wear a life jacket while on any boat.
All volunteers will receive a 2010 Christina River Watershed Cleanup t-shirt designed by Heather Sowards, a senior at Brandywine High School. Heather incorporated computer art technology into her winning entry.
More than fifty organizations and businesses sponsor the cleanup each year. Primary sponsors besides DNREC include: Christina Conservancy, Inc.; Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; New Castle County; DuPont Environmental Education Center; Artesian Water Company; Conectiv Energy; United Water Delaware; Noramco, Inc.; GE Ceramic Composite Products and Dow Chemical.
For more information on DNREC’s programs, visit our website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov.
