DNREC News: DNREC Showcases Coastal and Natural Resources at Coast Day in Lewes

News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Sept. 29, 2009 - Vol. 39, No. 389

For more information contact Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902 or visit DNREC’s web site, http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov

DNREC showcases coastal and natural resources at Coast Day in Lewes on Oct. 4

LEWES, Del. –Delaware’s coastal and natural resources will be showcased at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Coast Day education tent, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 on the campus of the University of Delaware’s College of Marine and Earth Sciences in Lewes. Coast Day – celebrating its 33rd year – is the University of Delaware’s annual end-of-summer event that attracts an estimated 10,000 people from Delaware and throughout the region.

“Coast Day celebrates Delaware’s precious coastal resources and brings together partners committed to preserving our beaches, waterways and ocean for future generations,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources Secretary Collin P. O’Mara. “We are pleased to partner with the University of Delaware in helping residents from across the state learn more about our incredible natural resources and the need to confront the challenges of climate change.”

The Coast Day theme, Climate Change and Our Coast, will be prominently showcased with displays and information in the DNREC tent. Visitors can test their coastal IQ at the Delaware Coastal Programs display and learn more about the current and potential challenges of living in a coastal state. “Thank you Delaware Bay,” an initiative that promotes the value and benefits of the Delaware Bay and encourages actions to protect bay resources, is also featured. Visitors can learn more about the many coastal programs offered by the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve located at the St. Jones and Blackbird Creek Reserves.

Other displays include information on Delaware’s coastal dune and habitat protection program, shorebird and other wildlife monitoring, boating safety, coastal greenways and trails, and the Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. An exhibit of live horseshoe crabs from DNREC’s Dupont Nature Center will highlight the valuable roles of horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds in Delaware’s coastal ecosystem.

Also, docked nearby, DNREC’s Fisheries vessel, “First State,” will be open for tours. The ship is used by agency scientists for marine research, including the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project, that recently, along with other program partners, planted more than 2.1 million bushels of clam and oyster shell onto reefs in the Delaware Bay.

Other exhibits focus on Delaware’s biodiversity and natural resources, including a display on private lands restoration, adopt-a-wetland, water supply and groundwater protection, and managing wells and septic systems. DNREC’s Financial Assistance Branch will provide information on the Delaware Septic Loan Rehabilitation Program designed to assist homeowners with the costs of repairing or replacing their septic system. Other projects featured include Outdoor Delaware magazine, debris pits remediation, mosquito control programs, and the ecological and economic importance of bats in our state.

Several exhibits highlight energy and pollution prevention programs. The Delaware Energy Office display includes information on the Delaware Green Energy program that provides cash incentives to citizens for installing renewable energy systems in their homes. Other exhibits include: how homeowners can save money on their electric bill; managing underground storage tanks to prevent pollution; simple, easy-to-do recycling tips; the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program that reduces greenhouse gas pollution in power plants; and initiatives that reduce harmful school bus emissions through bus retrofits and anti-idling programs.

The DNREC tent, located on the campus between the Smith and Cannon buildings, includes more than 35 displays and exhibits by the Divisions of Soil and Water Conservation, Fish and Wildlife, Water Resources, Parks and Recreation, Air and Waste Management, and the Office of the Secretary. The exhibits feature the agency’s diverse programs designed to conserve and protect Delaware’s natural resources and encourage public participation through hands-on activities and educational games that appeal to both adults and children.

DNREC has exhibited at Coast Day since its inception in 1976. For more information, visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov