Category: Beaches

2/1/2014

BEACH GRASS PLANTING SIGN-UPS

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REPLENISH THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SAND DUNES WITH BEACH GRASSES

NEW BEACH GRASS FOR ATLANTIC OCEAN SAND DUNES

Have you ever volunteered to replenish the beach grasses along the Atlanctic Ocean coastline in Delaware? It is one of the most fun-filled days of activity that I have at the beach. The young grasses are provided to the volunteers, a brief planting lesson is given, and small groups of volunteers are assigned to different areas of the sand dunes to begin planting the new beach grasses. What a great way to help the environment, soak in some early spring sun, and make new friends, too!

Here is a letter from Jennifer Luoma, from DNREC, explaining the volunteer program. I hope you can all join in this year!

An Open Letter from Jennifer Luoma (DNREC)
Jennifer.Luoma@state.de.us:

"Hello! Even though it is only January, we are planning the 25th Annual Beach Grass Planting. Our efforts this year will be focused on the newly reconstructed dunes north of the Indian River Inlet in Delaware Seashore State Park.

"Each March since 1990, many dedicated volunteers have helped to build and protect Delaware’s sand dunes by planting Cape American beach grass on Delaware’s ocean and Delaware Bay beaches. Their efforts have been very successful in helping to re-establish the vegetation along our coastline. Beach nourishment that took place as a result of Hurricane Sandy has rebuilt the dunes north of the Indian River Inlet to protect Route 1. Our plan is to plant beach grass in that area, so the dunes may start to stabilize and build again.

"The 2014 Beach Grass Planting will be from 9 AM to 12 noon on Saturday, March 22, 2014. If you and your family and friends are able to volunteer, please register online at:

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/swc/Shoreline/Pages/BeachGrassPlanting.aspx

"Please note, that we are focusing all efforts on the area north of Indian River Inlet. In years past we have been able to give volunteers choices as to what areas to plant, but this year we do not have that to offer. If you register, you will be assigned to the north side of the Indian River Inlet in Delaware Seashore State Park.

"If you do not wish to register on-line or have any questions about the planting, please give me a call at (302) 739-9921 or send me e-mail at Jennifer.Luoma@state.de.us.

"Thank you for volunteering!"

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7/3/2013

Prime Hook Beach

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

This Sunday, Delaware's The News Journal will feature beautiful photographs of a hidden wonder along the Delaware Bay--Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Prime Hook Beach. Breathtaking photos of wildlife and the open access areas for public enjoyment will be featured. The article is entitled, "Prime Hook: Photographs of the Off-the-Beaten Path Beach."

A few miles east of Milton, Delaware, and 22 miles southeast of Dover, the quiet shores of Prime Hook Beach can be reached via Prime Hook Road, a left turn off of Delaware Route 1 South.

Directly behind the community of homes lining the beach is the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was created in 1963 by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary expressly for migrating birds. It encompasses nearly 10,000 diverse acres of freshwater and saltwater marshes, woodlands, grasslands, bottomland forested habitats, scrub brush zones, farming lands, ponds, and a seven mile long creek. Naturally occurring tidal salt marshes make up 2300 acres of the refuge, and man-made freshwater ponds cover 4000 acres. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the freshwater impoundment systems were built in the 1980's to provide refuge officials the means to raise and lower water levels in the ponds to accommodate the needs of migratory birds during different seasons of the year. The ponds provided habitat for wintering waterfowl, places to feed for spring and fall migratory shorebirds, and nesting areas for wading birds in the summer.

And therein lies the rub. Having provided beautiful habitat for bird watching and wildlife viewing, the refuge created the perfect conditions for housing development along the bay coast: water views both east and west of established residences and newly built homes. But since 2006, multiple hurricanes have caused sea water to breach the dunes, causing an influx of sediment and saltwater into the freshwater ponds, killing most of the vegetation and limiting the use of the ponds by migrating and local birds, as well as by local wildlife populations.

The beauty of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge will be preserved in the beautiful photo layout in The News Journal on Sunday, but all of Delaware and the nation needs to rally behind permanently preserving our national wildlife refuges.

Egrets Resting in Trees at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

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7/21/2012

DNREC Tests the Water at the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean Beaches

Making the Delaware Beaches Safer Through Quality Beach Water Testing by DNREC

Why does Dr. Kate Connors worry about beach water quality in Nocturne, Opus 1: Sea Foam? First of all, she is the mother of a precocious three-year-old daughter and she loves her dearly. Which parent among us wouldn't pay attention to our child's surroundings, especially in new places like on vacation at the beach? Our first concern would be strangers, followed by activity safety, which includes monitoring how close our child gets to the water, or how far into the water our child goes, or how deep of water our child swims in. Then we think of sharks! (Sorry. But that topic does lurk in the back of most parents' minds, whether they care to admit it or not.) More realistically, in terms of probability of contact, we scan the water's surface for the bobbling, rounded shape of jellyfish. But how many of us also see this standard beach scene through the microscopic and macroscopic eyes of a scientist?

Kate Connors is a scientist, a medical researcher studying the effects of bacteria on the human body. Specifically, she studies Bacillus nocturne, a normally passive, estuary bacteria that floats harmlessly in rivers, bays and oceans. Why does she study this bacteria? Because the organization that hired her, the Institute for Public Policy and Safety, knows that someone has genetically altered Bacillus nocturne. Kate sees danger where we see children laughing and tumbling in the surf.

Is there a problem with our beach water quality in the United States? Yes, in some places. A few years ago, I found a sign posted by DNREC, Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, at an entrance to an inland bay beach. It read:

“The waters of the Inland Bays may contain organisms that could be harmful to your health. Swimming could result in an increased risk of rashes, infections or gastrointestinal distress, especially during and after rainfall. For your health and safety, please swim at beaches with lifeguards where the water quality is tested weekly. For information on beach water quality or to report illnesses resulting from contact with these waters, please call 1-800-922-WAVE or visit www.dnrec.state.de.us.”

Have you seen water quality warning signs near any of the beaches you've visited? What did they say?

2 Comments

6/2/2012

Prime Hook Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

Entrance to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

A few miles east of Milton, Delaware, and 22 miles southeast of Dover, the quiet shores of Prime Hook Beach can be reached via Prime Hook Road, a left turn off of Delaware Route 1 South. The beach area is not easily accessible to the public, but there are a few unmarked entrances over dunes that can be traversed. Parking is a problem because of the frequent posting of No Parking signs, and there is no parking lot available for visitors.

Directly behind the community of homes lining the beach is the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was created in 1963 by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary expressly for migrating birds. It encompasses nearly 10,000 diverse acres of freshwater and saltwater marshes, woodlands, grasslands, bottomland forested habitats, scrub brush zones, farming lands, ponds, and a seven mile long creek. Naturally occurring tidal salt marshes make up 2300 acres of the refuge, and man-made freshwater ponds cover 4000 acres. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the freshwater impoundment systems were built in the 1980's to provide refuge officials the means to raise and lower water levels in the ponds to accommodate the needs of migratory birds during different seasons of the year. The ponds provided habitat for wintering waterfowl, places to feed for spring and fall migratory shorebirds, and nesting areas for wading birds in the summer.

And therein lies the rub. Having provided beautiful habitat for bird watching and wildlife viewing, the refuge created the perfect conditions for housing development along the bay coast: water views both east and west of established residences and newly built homes. But in 2006, Hurricane Ernesto breached the dunes and caused an influx of sediment and saltwater behind some homes. Viewed as a natural process, the breach was not repaired. In 2009 and 2010 the dune line was again overwashed, pouring more saltwater into the freshwater ponds, killing most of the vegetation, and again flooding the area. In 2011 the dunes were rebuilt, but destroyed within a week by another storm. Valuable time for action has been delayed by lawsuits and agencies debating how to resolve the issues, one of which is how to protect the homes already in the community.

Prime Hook Road entrance to Prime Hook Beach

Prime Hook Road Surrounded By Saltwater Infused Ponds

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed three proposals to resolve this problem, but homeowners are concerned about the outcomes:

1. Option 1: Take no action.
2. Option 2: Actively manage the refuge to mimic natural processes (FWS' preference).
3. Option 3: Reinstate cooperative farming in the refuge, manage both saltwater and freshwater habitats, and rebuild infrastructure and the dunes along the Delaware Bayshore.

For more information about Prime Hook Beach and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Preserve, go to www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook

Wading Shorebirds' Habitat at the Refuge

Two Wading Shorebirds Perched on Tree Branches

Prime Hook Beach

3 Comments

5/26/2012

On Memorial Day

A Salute from the Shore to All Veterans and Present Armed Forces Personnel:

You Have Made All of Our Beaches and Our Entire Homeland Safe Because of Your Bravery, Good Will, and Heroic Patriotism. Thank You Forever!

From the West Coast to the East Coast, we enjoy the beauty of our beaches thanks to the national safety provided by our Armed Forces.

In the middle of all the excitement of a Memorial Day Parade, or on the outer edges of a beach full of multi-colored beach umbrellas, or sitting in front row seats watching bright fireworks fragment in the night air, we sometimes forget what Memorial Day is all about.

Memorial Day is a time of remembering, a time of thankful praise for a courageous job well done, and a time to offer prayers for the well-being of all military families.

We truly live in the home of the brave, and America's service personnel and their families deserve the best of everything. On this Memorial Day and every day, remember to say, "Thank you for your service" or "Thank you for protecting my family and me" whenever you meet someone in uniform. Just as important are the kind words, smiles, and help that you offer to all the military families that you meet as you thank them for their sacrifice for us.

6 Comments

5/5/2012

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Logo of the Partnership

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is one of 28 national estuary programs in the United States' coastal zones. Established in 1996 as a non-profit organization, the Partnership takes a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary, where fresh water from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. Partners in three states, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, work with the organization's staff to increase awareness and understanding of the estuary and to share scientific knowledge and research about the Delaware Estuary.

The Partnership's mission is to lead collaborative and creative events that will educate the public and organizations about the Delaware Estuary and its tributaries in an effort to protect it for current and future generations. Activities are as varied as volunteer clean-ups of the local river banks and bay beaches to fundraisers and teacher education programs. Follow this link for a list of upcoming activities and information about the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

http://delawareestuary.org/who_we_are_the_estuary.asp

The Delaware Estuary Encompasses Areas of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

2 Comments

3/16/2012

Map of Delaware Bay Beaches

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service produced this excellent map of the Delaware Bay Beaches. In my previous blogs, I've reviewed Woodland Beach, Port Mahon Beach, and Pickering Beach. Upcoming blogs will feature the beaches of Bombay Hook, Kitts Hummock, and Bowers Beach. As we head south along the Delaware side of the bay, I will tell you about the amazing "Delaware Diamonds" found along our beaches and their comparable cousins, the "Cape May Diamonds." Until then, have a very happy St. Patrick's Day and use this map to guide you to Delaware's quiet, secluded natural beaches.

3 Comments

BEACH GRASS PLANTING SIGN-UPS

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REPLENISH THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SAND DUNES WITH BEACH GRASSES

Prime Hook Beach

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

DNREC Tests the Water at the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean Beaches

Making the Delaware Beaches Safer Through Quality Beach Water Testing by DNREC

Prime Hook Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

On Memorial Day

A Salute from the Shore to All Veterans and Present Armed Forces Personnel:

You Have Made All of Our Beaches and Our Entire Homeland Safe Because of Your Bravery, Good Will, and Heroic Patriotism. Thank You Forever!

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Map of Delaware Bay Beaches

Author

Archives

Categories

BEACH GRASS PLANTING SIGN-UPS

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REPLENISH THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SAND DUNES WITH BEACH GRASSES

Prime Hook Beach

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

DNREC Tests the Water at the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean Beaches

Making the Delaware Beaches Safer Through Quality Beach Water Testing by DNREC

Prime Hook Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

On Memorial Day

A Salute from the Shore to All Veterans and Present Armed Forces Personnel:You Have Made All of Our Beaches and Our Entire Homeland Safe Because of Your Bravery, Good Will, and Heroic Patriotism. Thank You Forever!

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Map of Delaware Bay Beaches

Author

Archives

Categories

A Salute from the Shore to All Veterans and Present Armed Forces Personnel:

You Have Made All of Our Beaches and Our Entire Homeland Safe Because of Your Bravery, Good Will, and Heroic Patriotism. Thank You Forever!