DNREC, DPH Urge Delaware Residents to Stay Alert for Ticks as Activity Increases As warmer weather draws more people outdoors, state officials are reminding Delaware residents that ticks remain active year-round and can pose a risk beyond the summer months. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Division of Public Health (DPH) issued a joint …
DNREC considers fee changes for Delaware State Parks amid rising costs, record demand
Delaware State Parks may see changes to entrance, annual, and lifetime pass fees for the first time in a decade, as the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) weighs options to sustain operations under rising costs and record visitation. Park fees have remained unchanged since 2015, despite expenses funded by user fees increasing by 127%. According to DNREC, …
Piping Plover ‘nomad’ returns to Delaware Shore after rehabilitation efforts
A coordinated rescue and rehabilitation effort involving state and federal agencies has returned a vulnerable piping plover to the Delaware coast, offering hope for the endangered shorebird species. The adult male plover, known to researchers as “Nomad” due to his distinctive band, was discovered unable to fly or walk at Fowler Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge on June …
DuPont Nature Center Hosts ‘Sea Trash’ Learning Event at Slaughter Beach
MILFORD, Del. — The DuPont Nature Center will host a “Sea Trash” Learning Event on Friday in Slaughter Beach, giving community visitors a chance to protect Delaware’s beautiful coastline while learning about the impact of marine debris. The free event, called “A New Kind of Seasickness: Marine Debris” will be led by staff from the center and will be held …
Delaware expands off-road wheelchair access in state parks
People with disabilities now have greater access to Delaware’s state parks, thanks to an expanded program offering all-terrain wheelchairs at five park locations. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced that Action Trackchairs, motorized off-road wheelchairs, are now available at Cape Henlopen, Lums Pond, Killens Pond, Trap Pond, and White Clay Creek state parks. The initiative …
Sussex County investigates wastewater discharge near Bethany Beach
Sussex County officials are investigating a wastewater discharge issue at the South Coastal Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility near Bethany Beach after discovering a compromised pipe diverted treated effluent into a nearby tax ditch. The problem was reported to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) on Saturday, July 19, after Environmental Services staff identified the diversion from …
2 invasive fish break state records in Delaware waters
Delaware anglers recently shattered state records with catches of two invasive fish species, according to the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Jason Wise of Bear landed a 33-pound, 15.68-ounce flathead catfish on May 21 in Lums Pond, setting Delaware’s first official state record for the species. Just days later, Dyllan Rust of Harrington broke the record …
Dover angler lands record-breaking Golden Tilefish off Delaware coast
A fishing trip to offshore waters turned historic for Logan Smith of Dover, who landed a massive 56-pound, 3.2-ounce Golden Tilefish—setting a new Delaware state record. “When it bit, I had no idea what it was, because it was pulling drag like crazy,” Smith said. “When me and my buddies finally saw some color from the fish and brought it …
Delaware study maps most suitable areas for marsh migration amid rising seas
As sea level rise along Delaware’s coast, the state is preparing for the natural shift of its tidal wetlands. A new mapping study released by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) outlines where these critical ecosystems are most likely—and most able—to move in the coming decades. The study, led by DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program and …
Beachgoers urged to avoid Indian River Inlet as sand bypass system testing starts
Visitors to Delaware Seashore State Park are being warned to steer clear of designated zones around the Indian River Inlet starting Monday as state officials begin testing an upgraded sand bypass system. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced that the mechanical system — designed to mimic the natural flow of sand along the coast — …
