Norene's Environmental Blog - Dr. Norene Moskalski

DELAWARE BEACHES RANK BEST IN THE NATION

7/5/2014

THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL RANKS DELAWARE BEACHES NUMBER 1 IN THE NATION AGAIN

Beautiful and clean, Delaware's beaches win the prestigious NRDC Best Beaches Award Again

For the fourth straight year, the National Resources Defense Council ranked Delaware's beaches as the best in the nation, out of all beaches in the United States' 30 coastal states. The prized five star rating of Superstar Beach was awarded to Dewey's Swedes Beach for having perfect water quality since 2009.

The Council is a non-partisan international environmental advocacy group that assesses beaches annually for water purity and swimming quality. Congratulations, Delaware!

REGIONAL EFFORT TO DEVELOP REAL-TIME STORM AND FLOODING MAPS

6/14/2014

DELMARVA PANEL OF SCIENTISTS AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO PREPARE A MODEL FOR COPING WITH SEA LEVEL RISE AND INCREASED FLOODING FROM STORMS

HIGH TIDE ALONG THE DELAWARE BAY

After the May storm of 2008 that caused excessive flooding along the Delaware Bay beaches, the University of Delaware set about constructing real-time flood maps to be used to alert homeowners along the bay when the flood waters would begin to rise. Access to this important information will be the first project addressed by DelMarVa officials, scientists, and institutions when the new Mid-Atlantic Coastal Resiliency Institute forms to examine sea level rise and flooding risks in the region.

Delaware and its surrounding states are uniquely positioned to lead the initiative to protect citizens, animals, and properties from the onslaught of rapid flooding because the University of Delaware has already developed software that can determine how deep the floodwaters will be at any particular residence or roadway along the coast. Now, that mapping and flooding software will be developed for others states, as well.

The team will consist of the University of Delaware; NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center--Greenbelt Campus, Wallops Flight Facility and the Goddard Institute of Space Science; US Fish and Wildlife Service; US Geologic Survey; Chincoteague Bay Field Station of the Marine Science Consortium; College of William and Mary; Virginia Institute of Marine Science; University of Virginia, Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program; University of Maryland, College Park; and The Nature Conservancy.

National Climate Assessment

5/7/2014

The National Climate Assessment Confirms:
Climate Change Is Already Affecting The United States

SEA FOAM CAPPED WAVES ERODE THE BEACHES

The multi-agency U.S. scientific team organized to evaluate climate change in the United States has confirmed what many people have been talking about for years: the threat of climate change is real, and it is consistently visible in the daily news reports.

The National Climate Assessment cites the effects of climate change causing increased wildfires, extremes of seasonal temperatures, deadly droughts, sea level rise topping four feet by mid-century, and monsoon-like rain downpours altering the weather patterns in the United States.

The Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland may become the hardest hit by the weather changes as ocean storms increase in intensity and frequency, triggering massive flooding and beach erosions.

EARTH DAY 2014

4/22/2014

EARTH DAY 2014:
MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Earth Day 2014: Make The World A Better Place

As the world celebrates Earth Day 2014, join in the efforts to leave every place a little bit better than you found it. Imagine what earth would look like if every one committed to improving every place they stayed before they moved on.

SEA LEVEL RISE

3/26/2014

WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE ON SEA LEVEL RISE: AN OPEN LETTER OF PRAISE TO BRAD PLUMER

A centimeter of sea level rise can affect our beaches.

Great article, Brad Plumer ... I've been watching the University of Arizona's sea level rise charts for five years now. The anticipated centimeters of sea level rise have increased dramatically over the years--they are now measuring the rise in meters, not centimeters, just as you said. There is trouble ahead for the low-lying Mid-Atlantic States, especially my home state of Delaware. I write my ecology blog (www.norenemoskalski.com) and fact-based fiction in the hope of educating readers while they lean back and relax on their beach chairs--as every centimeter of sea level rise shortens those beautiful beaches we all love.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/26/how-high-will-sea-levels-rise-lets-ask-the-experts/

WELCOME, SPRING!

3/26/2014

SPRING IS EVIDENT IN DELAWARE

AT LAST, PEEKING THROUGH THE LATEST SPRINKLING OF SNOWFLAKES IN DELAWARE, THE EARLY CROCUSES ARE LIGHTING UP THE FLOWER BEDS.

HAPPY SPRING, EVERYONE!

BEACH GRASS PLANTING SIGN-UPS

2/1/2014

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!"

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

12/31/2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE: 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

12/24/2013

MAY THE PEACE AND JOY OF CHRISTMAS
BE ALWAYS IN YOUR HEARTS.

Will Fracking Water Enter Our Estuaries?

11/30/2013

Surfrider Foundation Urges Action To Protect Our Waterways and Oceans Before December 6, 2013

The Delaware Bay Estuary

An Action Alert From The Delaware Chapter Of The Surfrider Foundation:

"Keep Wasted Fracking Water Out of our Oceans, Rivers, Inland Bays, and Watershed. This is the latest craziness from the oil and gas industry. They want to ship used fracking water on barges on inland and coastal waterways. Fracking water contains radioactive isotopes, lead, arsenic, mercury, and other toxic substances and barges sink, run into things, and have other accidents on a pretty regular basis--you can see why this is a problem!

"The government is seemingly trying to rush this new allowed use through rule-making quickly. We just found out about this issue a couple of weeks ago, and comments are due by December 6th!

"Please comment here:
https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=
EC67898AA352054D015BA464A3CC6172.app304b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=9682&autologin=true "

Copyright © 2013 Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter, All rights reserved.
Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter
P.O. Box 1114
Millsboro, DE 19966