Delaware Launches Climate Change Plan for State Agencies
On March 2nd, Govenor Markell held a press conference on the states efforts on Climate Change. He is a good article on the press conference.
Have you noticed the effects of climate change or sea level rise. If so you can post your observations on this blog: http://thealmanac.org/week.php You can post what you’re seeing in the form of a journal entry, a photo, video, etc that shows something interesting you’re seeing in your neighborhoods. And that could be an unusually cold (or warm) day, a species of bird or bug that you’d never usually see until later in the season, or even a house that’s suffered from flooding or is being raised because of sea level rise.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Update
Please read below and send a strong letter of support for this project.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Contact: Al Rizzo, 302-653-9345 ext. 102
Service invites public input to environmental assessment for Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge marsh restoration project
Open house scheduled, public comment period through March 25, 2015
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input as it evaluates the restoration of a 4,000-acre tidal marsh at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge along the Delaware Bay. The project is supported by federal funding from the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Act.
In its environmental assessment (EA), the Service evaluates the impacts of the full tidal marsh restoration project. The project was initially evaluated as part of the refuge’s comprehensive conservation plan in 2012 (CCP/EIS, 2012). The environmental assessment addresses the full scope of the project as well as new information and environmental circumstances that were not evaluated in the development of the CCP. This environmental review for federal projects is required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The EA will be available for public review and comment for 30 days through March 25, 2015. The document is available online at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime_hook/. A hard copy version of the document also will also be available at the refuge’s headquarters office, 11978 Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE, and at Milton Library, 121 Union St, Milton, DE.
The refuge also will host an open house March 18 at 7 p.m. at its headquarters office. The meeting is an opportunity to meet Service staff, learn about the EA and provide verbal and written comments on the EA.
Comments may be submitted at the public meetings or at any time during the comment period. Email northeastplanning@fws.gov (include Prime Hook in the subject line) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prime-Hook-National-Wildlife-Refuge/319564514783623?fref=nf Mail: 11978 Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE 19968
Long-term project goals focus on helping local communities and wildlife better withstand future storm events and climate change by increasing the resiliency of the Delaware coastal barrier beach system.
The Service has been working closely with the Corps of Engineers (USACE) in coordinating the design of the marsh restoration project. The USACE, along with the National Marine Fisheries Service, are serving as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the NEPA documentation for this project.
For more information on Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime_hook/
For more information on the marsh restoration project:
http://www.fws.gov/hurricane/sandy/projects/PrimeHookBarrierBeach.html
-FWS-
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen in the northeast region, visit www.fws.gov/northeast. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwsnortheast, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwsnortheast, watch our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsnortheast.
Delaware's Floodplain Management Newsletter (DNREC)
Interesting information about FEMA can be found in the Delaware’s Floodplain Management Newsletter The First State Watermark – January 2015
Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge Restoration Project
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is seeking a Federal Consistency Determination from DNREC. Below is the Public Notice:
DNREC – Delaware Coastal Programs
PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL CONSISTENCY DETERMINATIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE DELAWARE
COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE FOLLOWING:
USFWS Prime Hook NWR Proposed Restoration Project (2015.0006)
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to restore the historic
tidal circulation and saltmarsh habitat within the Prime Hook National
Wildlife Refuge. This project will include closing the shoreline
breaches by placing 1.1 million cubic yards of hydraulically dredged
material along 6,375 linear feet of shoreline adjacent to Unit II
using material from a near-shore borrow site. Additionally, 113,739
linear feet of channels within Units II and III will be excavated to
20-40 feet wide and -2.5 to -3.5 feet deep to enhance habitat
diversity and increase tidal circulation. Information for this project
is available for review by contacting the Delaware Coastal Programs.
Comments concerning this Federal Consistency Determination will be
accepted for 20 days from the date of this notice.
Residents of Slaughter Beach can show their support of this Project by submitting comments to:
Delaware Coastal Programs
Ms. Sarah W. Cooksey, Administrator
5 E. Reed St., Suite 201,
Dover, DE, 19901.
For additional information please call (302) 739-9283.
A recent article about Prime Hook NWR can be found here.
S.B. Registered as a Community Wildlife Habitat
Slaughter Beach has been registered by The National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat. The next step will is to achive all the required goals to be certified. Here is the press release from NWF and Delaware Nature Society: Registered Community
Also an article about the program from WDDE.
Ten new Certified Habitat signs will be posted on yards though out Town soon. We are inching closer to having the Town Certified as a Wildlife Habitat Community. More yards are needed to fulfill our goal to be certified by Spring. For more on what it entails go to the Programs/Initiative Tab and click on the Habitat Certification Initiative. Or you can download the application here: HabitatCertificationApplication. If you have any questions you can email us at slaughterbeep@comcast.net. Check us out on Facebook too. Help us get the Town Certified by participating in the Initiative.
Habitat Certification Initiative
Check out the new Habitat Certification Initiative the Town is working on in cooperation with the Delaware Nature Society. You can find more information under the Programs/Initiative Tab, then click on the Habitat Certification Initiative. Get involved. Our Facebook back is up and working. Don’t have to be on Facebook to check it out. The page can be found here.
Smart911 Comes to Sussex County
We’d like to familiarize you with Smart911 & encourage you to sign up today. Please see the following information/links. It could save valuable time in an emergency- at home or away from home.
At a September 11, 2014 news conference, Sussex County announced the launch of Smart911 – a supplemental data service that allows you to create a safety profile that can be seen by emergency responders when you call 9 1 1.
For more information about Smart911 you can go to Sussex County’s website. Smart911 is currently up and running in Sussex County! You can sign up today at Smart911.com.
DNREC Beach Regulations
Beach Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC): Updates to Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches
The Division of Watershed Stewardship’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section is evaluating potential updates to the Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches that will increase the effectiveness of the Coastal Construction Program and improve its protection of the beach and dune system. The purpose of updating the regulations is to incorporate recent legislative changes into the Beach Preservation Act (Del. Code Title 7, Chapter 68) and to incorporate Division policies and construction standards that will result in less damage to structures and stronger protection of dune and beach resources. The updates will also harmonize various provisions of the regulations and clarify the amount and type of construction permitted seaward of the Beach Preservation Building Line. Updates to the Beach Preservation Building Line will also be considered.
The Division of Watershed Stewardship has created the Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) as required by law to fully develop these regulatory revisions. The group of individuals asked to serve on this committee represent those with regulatory interest as well as technical expertise. This committee, which meets monthly, is charged with shaping updates to the current Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches. Below are agendas, presentations and meeting minutes from those meetings.
The Web Page can be found here.
2014 Coastal Cleanup a Success
The 28th Annual Coastal Cleanup was held on Sept. 20th. Over 170 volunteers signed in to help with the Clean Up at Slaughter Beach. Close to 300 pounds of trash/debris and recyclables were removed from the shoreline, preventing it from blowing/washing back into the Bay and potentially harming marine life. Volunteers included Slaughter Beach residents, area residents, members of a 4-H Club, Cub Scout Pack 911 and Pack 186, and Girl Scout Troop 141. Plastic Bottle Caps lead the list of items collected, once again, with 389 caps removed from the beach. The most unusual items found this year were Chopsticks, a laundry basket, a mop, toy grenade, Badminton Birdie, and a pair of sneakers. The birds and “Sea Critters” thank all who helped with this years cleanup.
Prime Hook Restoration Update
Prime Hook Refuge restoration is projected to start in 2015. Here is an article from the Cape Gazette with the latest.
