Spring Pond Trout Season to Open With Youth-Only Day March 1st, Followed by Regular Downstate Opener March 2nd

DNREC has announced that Delaware’s 2025 downstate pond trout season will open for youth anglers under age 16-only at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 1st, followed by the opening of the regular downstate trout season for all anglers a half-hour before sunrise on Sunday, March 2nd. Fishing will be allowed on youth opening day from 7 a.m.…

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DNREC Announces Leadership Changes

Secretary Greg Patterson announced key leadership appointments at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to strengthen intergovernmental coordination and policy. Matthew Ritter has been named Director of the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, bringing 20 years of experience within the department. Previously the Director of the Division of Community Affairs,…

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Gov Meyer Looking for Nominees for Seat on Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council

Candidates interested in being nominated for Delaware’s seat on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) should complete and submit a nomination application kit. Candidates will be nominated by Governor Matt Meyer. You must be a Delaware resident and in the application kit – outline your fisheries background, experience and ability to serve as a council…

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EPA, DNREC Reach Agreement on Civil Rights Complaint Related to Seaford Bioenergy Project

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of External Civil Rights Compliance (OECRC) and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) have signed an Informal Resolution Agreement addressing a civil rights complaint related to permitting for a bioenergy project in Seaford. The resolution builds on steps DNREC had already taken to strengthen public…

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Delaware to Solicit Water Quality Improvement Projects With Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), in conjunction with the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), will begin soliciting for new water quality improvement projects Monday, Jan. 13th. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for clean water and drinking water projects will be provided through the existing State Revolving Fund (SRF) process.…

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Secretary Garvin Steps Down at DNREC

After 8 years leading DNREC during the Carney Administration, Secretary Shawn Garvin is moving on from public service. Secretary Garvin left his post Tuesday – Deputy DNREC Secretary Lisa Borin Ogden will take the helm beginning on Wednesday, January 8th. Ogden has been served with Garvin at DNREC since the early days of the Carney…

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UPDATED: H5 Avian Influenza Positive Test at Kent County Farm

UPDATED – 01/05/25 – Test results from the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Lab on a poultry farm in Kent County showed highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI). Delaware Ag officials urge all poultry farms in Delaware to monitor flocks for any signs of increased mortality. Commercial poultry producers should follow protocol of notifying the company…

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Georgetown Man Arrested Following Pursuit in Stolen Vehicle

A Georgetown man has been arrested following the theft of a vehicle and pursuit on Friday, December 27th. Delaware State Police were called to the Shoppes at Long Neck around 6:30am for a report of a vehicle theft. Around noon the vehicle was located by members of the Governor’s Task Force and a traffic stop…

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UPDATED: Sick & Dead Snow Geese Found Friday in Sussex County Coastal Waters Test Positive for H5 Avian Influenza

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UPDATE – 07:15pm – DNREC and Delaware Agriculture officials Saturday announced that lab tests on sick and dead snow geese collected Friday in coastal Sussex County have returned presumptive positive findings for H5 avian influenza. This is the most recent confirmation on H5 avian influenza on Delmarva since May of 2022 when it was found…

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UPDATED: Dredging to Restore Beach North of Indian River Inlet Underway

UPDATED – 12/23/24 – Sand pumping and placement on the north side of the Indian River Inlet began on December 2nd and DNREC officials say significant progress has been made. This project is aimed at restoring the severely eroded beach and protect critical transportation infrastructure along Route 1. The contractor, Dredgit Corp. says that as…

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2 Virtual Public Meetings Wednesday on DE’s EV Infrastructure Plan

DelDOT and DNREC will hold two virtual public meetings on Wednesday on the First State’s EV Infrastructure Plan. The first meeting is at 4pm – and the second at 6pm. Each Zoom session presentation will be identical and followed by a question and answer period. The presentation will include Delaware’s transition to an electric transportation…

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DE Plover Population Sees Slight Decline, but Higher Nesting Success

The piping plover season has ended in Delaware and DNREC officials say this year there was a decrease in adult pair numbers – but increased nesting success. The piping plover is a federally-listed threatened species and an Delaware state-listed endangered species. Until this year, pair counts in the First State had steadily increased since 2016…

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Open Burning Ban Issued for Delaware

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There has been below-average precipitation since late summer and Sussex County and New Castle County are abnormally dry according to DNREC officials. DNREC and the Delaware State Fire Marshal have issued a statewide ban on all open burning until further notice. While water demand decreases in the fall – and Delaware’s reservoirs and aquifers are…

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DNREC to Hold Community Information Session Tues, Sept 24 on Beach & Dune Replenishment North of Indian River Inlet

A community information session will be held by DNREC on Tuesday evening, September 24th, to discuss the upcoming dredging and beach and dune replenishment project on the north side of the Indian River Inlet.  Temporary “fixes” have been undertaken to keep the ocean from breaching the dunes and flooding Route 1, but Governor Carney has…

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DELAWARE Beaches Medical Waste Update

Many beaches in Delaware have been closed to swimming since Sunday, September 15th when medical waste began washing up on the beaches. DNREC’s swimming/wading advisory is through Sept, 23. Wearing closed-toe shoes to walk on the beach is advised. The towns of Dewey Beach, South Bethany, Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island are following…

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DNREC Issues Recreational Water Advisory for DE Coastal Beaches as Medical Waste Continues to Wash Ashore

DNREC has issued a recreational water advisory for Delaware coastal beaches – including Rehoboth Beach in relation to the medical waste that has washed ashore since Sunday. This advisory is for one week. Beach access will remain open in Rehoboth Beach, however swimming and wading in the ocean are not advised. Rehoboth Beach Patrol members…

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Man Collapses in Cardiac Arrest Rescuing Grandson in Surf

Picutre of wave rolling up beach with sea foam

A 62-year-old man collapsed in cardiac arrest trying to rescue his 9-year-old grandson who was in distress in the surf. It happened around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday near the South Bethany drive-on in the Fenwick Island State Park. The child made it safely to shore, but his grandfather remained in cardiac arrest as he was…

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