Division of Soil and Water Conservation

The Delaware Estuary is one of the largest tidal estuaries in the world. Stretching from Trenton, N.J., to Cape Henlopen, Del., it is the region where fresh water from the Delaware River and the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean mix. It provides drinking water for more than nine million people, as well as other recreational, economic and environmental benefits.

But the Delaware Estuary faces many environmental challenges. The over harvest of fish and shellfish, contaminants in fish, and the loss of important wildlife habitat and vital wetlands are among the issues being studied by DNREC scientists, including those from the Division of Soil & Water Conservation (DSWC). Maintaining the Delaware Estuary’s environmental health is a crucial mission of the DSWC, and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is a major contributor in the effort to fulfill that mission.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) seeks to:

• Preserve and manage the natural resources within its boundaries as a place for research,
• Provide education and outreach programs that promote better understanding of Delaware’s estuarine and coastal areas, and
• Promote informed coastal decision-making.

DNERR is a cooperative program between DNREC, DSWC, Delaware Coastal Programs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is one of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country.

The direct links below provide more information on other estuary conservation-related topics:

• Delaware Bay Benthic and Sub-Bottom Mapping
• Delaware Coastal Management
• Delaware Coastal Programs Brochure
• Delaware Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
• National Estuarine Research Reserve System
• Thank You Delaware Bay