Posts Tagged ‘Shawn Garvin’
DNREC Announces a New Director for the Division of Watershed Stewardship
Secretary Shawn M. Garvin has named Steve Williams as new director to lead the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship. Williams has served his entire career with the Department, and one of his recent positions included administrator for the DNREC’s Watershed and Wetlands Assessment and Monitoring programs. The Division of Watershed Stewardship’s director manages a diverse…
Read MoreSen. Carper, Rep. Blunt Rochester Highlight Climate Change Challenges During Beach Visits
Delaware for the most part is flat and low-lying, leaving it exposed to the threat of climate change, according to Senator Tom Carper, D-Delaware Carper was accompanied by Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware, Delaware Natural Resources Secretary Shawn Garvin and officials with the US Army Corps of Engineers Tuesday during visits to Slaughter Beach and…
Read MoreDel. Makes Grants Available For Clean Water Projects
Grant money is flowing into clean-water-related projects in The First State. According to the Department of Natural Resources, more than $1.23-million in non-point source pollution grants have been made available to Delawareans, government agencies and conservation districts in all three counties. Money comes from the federal Clean Water Act. A wide range of projects have…
Read MoreGov. Carney Releases Delaware Climate Action Plan
Governor John Carney has released a Delaware Climate Action Plan, which he says is a blueprint for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to leave the state better prepared for the impacts of climate change by prioritizing clean energy and improved energy efficiency. The Climate Action Plan resulted from a year-long process that involved Delawareans,…
Read MoreDonovan Smith MHP Hit With 2nd Notice of Violation; Plans Confirmed To Connect With Lewes Wastewater System
A mobile home community off Savannah Road will connect with the Lewes Board of Public Works sewer system, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources. The Donovan Smith community has been chosen as a pilot project in Delaware’s Clean Water Initiative for Underserved Communities. The community owner’s lender had to sign off on financing…
Read MoreLewes ‘Living Shoreline’ Completed
A living shoreline project has been completed at the Lewes Canal. The 180-foot feature adds to an already existing living shoreline that was built behind the Lewes Little League field seven years ago. The living shoreline helps to manage stormwater runoff, reduces the possibility of erosion issues and filters out pollutants. They are made of…
Read MoreHappy Trails: 2 Local Pathways Up For Hall-of-Fame
The Georgetown-to-Lewes Trail and Junction-and-Breakwater Pathway are up for consideration to join the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame. Voting is underway for the honor, and is open through next Friday August 6th. You may vote as often as you wish. To cast a vote, please CLICK HERE The Conservancy has been honoring rail-trails across the…
Read MoreDNREC Honors Young Environmentalists, Including A Sussex Co. Student
Delaware and the Department of Natural Resources have paid tribute to three students as DNREC Young Environmentalists of the Year. This year’s group of honorees includes 18-year-old Julia Rial of Lewes, whose efforts have included organizing beach clean-ups and tree-plantings. The Sussex Academy student is also a co-founder of the “Delaware Youth Chapter of Extinction…
Read MoreLewes Mobile Home Park Hit With Notice-of-Violation
The Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park LLC of Lewes received a Notice of Violation from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Thursday for continuing violations of state laws that govern wastewater treatment and disposal systems. According to DNREC, the community’s onsite wastewater treatment system was found to be out of compliance, posing…
Read MoreDel. Bayshore Byway Gets Federal Designation
The Delaware Bayshore Byway is now recognized by the Federal Highway Administration as a National Scenic Byway. A special sign to show the Byway’s significance was unveiled on Earth Day at the St. Jones Reserve in Kent County. The Bayshore Byway is a series of two-lane roads that run between Lewes and New Castle, bringing…
Read MoreDNREC Extends Electric Vehicle Rebate Program
Delaware has extended its rebate program for electric vehicles and charging station purchases for six months, through the end of June 2021. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the rebate program is part of the state’s commitment to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Transportation is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas…
Read MoreDel. Plastic Bag Ban Begins Jan. 1st
Delaware is one month away from banning plastic carryout bags. Starting New Year’s Day, single-use plastic bags will not be permitted at the point of sale at the majority of establishments. Delawareans are encouraged to keep using, or start using, re-usable bags for grocery shopping. Re-usable bags should be cleaned and disinfected between uses. “Each…
Read MoreDel. State Parks Will Be Free This Fri.
Delaware State Parks will be open to the public at no charge this Friday. The Department of Natural Resources will waive the entry fee as part of the annual Black Friday #OptOutside movement. It encourages Americans to spend time outdoors on the day after Thanksgiving and to share their experiences on social media using the…
Read MoreTar Balls, Oily Bits Continue Showing Up At Beaches
Remnants of an oil spill that was first detected at Broadkill Beach last month have made their way further south. DNREC and the Coast Guard say cleanup crews have cleared tar balls and oily debris from ocean beaches between Cape Henlopen and Fenwick Island in Delaware as well as Ocean City and Assateague Island State…
Read MoreOil Spill Cleanup Nears Its End; Investigation Continues
An assessment by the Unified Command that has been dealing with an oil spill for two weeks indicates that the clean-up may be largely complete. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard utilized stringent federal and state guidelines to determine whether clean-up crews have been successful or if more work is…
Read MoreUpdate: Oil Spill Cleanup Enters 2nd Week
The cleanup of oil patties from Delaware beaches enters its second week. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources says about 55 tons, or four construction dumpsters’ worth of oil blobs, polluted sand and other debris had been removed as of Sunday afternoon. DNREC and the US Coast Guard are managing the unified command. “The job…
Read MoreOil Spill May Have Affected 24 Seagulls
A unified command has been established as efforts continue to clean up oil patties from a spill on Delaware Bay. The Department of Natural Resources says gobs of oil have been found on various locations between Fowler Beach and Cape Henlopen. In addition to cleaning up and removing the oil patties, assessment of the spill’s…
Read More2020 A Good Year For Piping Plover Population
It was a productive summer at the Delaware beaches for nesting shorebirds. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources Thursday reported that 21 nesting pairs of piping plovers were monitored, and they produced about 51 fledglings. The small beach nesting birds are on Delaware’s state endangered list. The rate of fledglings, at 2.4 per pair of…
Read MoreBlades Groundwater Site Added to Superfund Priority List
A groundwater site in Blades has been added to the U.S. E.P.A. Superfund National Priorities List. The federal commitment clears the way for remedial action funded under the Superfund program. EPA will conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study to determine the nature and extent of contamination, determine risks to human health and the environment,…
Read MoreKillens Pond Water Park Closed, Staffer Tests Positive For COVID-19
Just one week after reopening for the season, the water park at Killens Pond State Park is closing for one week. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources a staff member at the park has tested positive for coronavirus. That staff member is asymptomatic. Eleven other staffers at the water park who were determined…
Read MoreDNREC Tightens Parking At State Park Beaches
The Department of Natural Resources plans to cut back capacity at Delaware Seashore, Cape Henlopen and Fenwick Island State Parks starting Friday. Lots will be limited to about 60 percent of parking capacity. Vehicles that arrive after capacity is reached will be turned away. DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin said state park beaches reached capacity last…
Read MoreGovernor Signs Bill at Rehoboth Bandstand Protecting Delaware from Offshore Drilling
Governor John Carney joined state and local officials, tourism, marine, fishing, and environmental advocates at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand today to sign two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting Delaware’s coastline and coastal economy from offshore drilling. “An oil spill of some sort could negatively impact the fragile tidal wetlands and ocean beaches, and habitat…
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