estuary news - Amazon S3€¦ · estuary news Newsletter of the Delaware Estuary Program Volume 13 / Issue 4 Summer 2003 Twenty thousand years ago, the area we know as the Delaware

estuary newsNewsletter of the Delaware Estuary Program

Volume 13 / Issue 4Summer 2003

Twenty thousand years ago, the area we know as the DelawareBay was a flowing river. During that time, a large ice sheetcovered much of North America, and the sea level was 300feet lower than it is today. Rising global temperatures meltedthe ice, causing the level of the oceans to rise about three feetevery century for the next 100 centuries. As the low landswere inundated with water and the AtlanticCoast retreated, the flowing river widenedinto a bay.

Over the last 6,000 years, global sea levelhas only risen approximately one inch percentury, with the exception of this past century, in which the sea level has risenmore rapidly. One possible explanation forthe rapid rise in sea level is global warm-ing. An increasing concentration of green-house gases in our atmosphere is causingalpine glaciers to melt and ocean water toexpand. Sea level is rising about one inchevery eight years in our area – and globalwarming is expected to double that rate inthe next 50–100 years. Yet most environ-mental and land use policies ignore theconsequences of the gradually rising sea.Is this a harmless oversight, or a funda-mental flaw? Thanks to its former staffengineer C.H.J. (Jack) Hull, the DelawareRiver Basin Commission has beenresponding to the impacts of sea level rise on estuarine salinitysince the late 1970s. Let’s take a closer look at the potentialimpacts of sea level rise in the Delaware Estuary region.

Rising sea level inundates low land, erodes wetlands andbeaches, increases flooding, and allows saltwater to advancefarther upstream. The first map shows that Salem andCumberland Counties in New Jersey, and Kent County inDelaware, contain most of the coastal wetlands that could

potentially be inundated as sea level rises. Fortunately,Delaware Bay’s wetlands are probably less vulnerable thanmost. Coastal marshes tend to be found between spring highwater (high tide during a full or new moon) and the mean tidelevel (the average water level). Thus, if sea level rises by one-half the spring tide range, all of the tidal wetlands will be sub-merged. With tide ranges of 1–3 feet, a rise in sea level of 6-18 inches would threaten many wetlands in Chesapeake Bayand the Atlantic Coastal Bays. The 6–8 foot tide range of

Delaware River and Bay, by contrast,implies that the sea would have to rise3–4 feet to have a similar impact.Michael Kearney of the University ofMaryland believes that sea level risehas caused some wetlands to becomeopen water near the mouth of theMispillion River, in Delaware, but thisloss is small compared to the erosionof wetlands in Dorchester County,Maryland, for example.

Over the last several thousand years,the loss of wetlands from sea level risehas been more than offset by the for-mation of new wetlands as nearby lowareas were flooded. In many undevel-oped areas, this landward migration of wetlands continues. In developedareas, however, people build dikes and drainage systems to prevent theirneighborhoods – and even some farms

– from becoming wetlands. The dikes in Cumberland County,New Jersey have been dismantled so that wetlands are able tomigrate inland as the sea rises. In neighboring Salem County,by contrast, pumping stations and small dikes prevent tidalinundation. Farther upstream in Gloucester County, near theCommodore Barry Bridge, dikes with tide gates maintain asmall community and several hundred acres of freshwater wet-lands below sea level. As the sea rises, that area will requirepumping to prevent inundation.

Is Rising Sea Level a Problem for theDelaware Estuary?

By Jim Titus, Project Manager for Sea Level Rise,

Global Change Information Branch,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(continued on page 2)

below 1.5 meters

1.5–3.5 meters

above 3.5 meters

5 miles

Salem

Cumberland

Kent

Page 2 Volume 13 / Issue 4

A one-foot rise in sea level generally erodes sandy beachesabout 100 feet. To protect shorefront homes, most states favorbeach nourishment programs that place new sand onto erodingocean beaches. Along bay beaches, however, the more com-mon practice is to erect rock revetments or wooden bulkheads(also known as “shoreline armoring”), which eliminate thebeaches. Delaware is one of the few states that has a strongcommitment to maintaining the existence of bay beachesthrough beach nourishment. In Salem County, New Jersey justbelow the Delaware Memorial Bridge, vertical bulkheads havealready eliminated the beach during high tide – and in a fewdecades these beaches will be submerged even at low tide.In some undeveloped areas, muddy vegetated wetlands areinland of the beach, and hence continued erosion could elimi-nate these beaches. The loss of beaches is not merely a prob-lem for beachcombers and fishermen; it is also a problem forthe Estuary’s many important species. Horseshoe crabs, forexample, require beaches and mudflats for reproduction, andmigratory shorebirds rely upon those horseshoe crab eggs. InMaryland, where more of the shoreline is armored than in thisregion, horseshoe crabs often get stuck while traversing rockrevetments during a falling tide.

Environmental programs have done little to stop the loss, ofwetlands and beaches as sea level rises. The wetlands regu-latory program was designed to prevent people from filling –and hence drying out – land that is wet today. For wetlands tosurvive sea level rise, however, the entire ecosystem needs tomigrate inland. The federal government and most states pro-vide general permits allowing any property owner to erect“minor” erosion-control structures that prevent the inland migra-tion of tidal waters, wetlands, and beaches. Section 404(e) of the Clean Water Act allows the Army Corps of Engineers to issue such general permits only if they cause a minimaladverse cumulative environmental impact. The Corps hasdecided that the cumulative impact of shoreline armoring isminimal. That decision was based on an analysis that lookedat the area actually filled by these structures (sometimes calledthe “footprint”) and did not include the habitat eliminated sea-ward and landward of the structures. If the Corps were per-suaded that shoreline armoring does have a cumulativeimpact, then the current general permit would have to bereplaced with a plan that defines the areas where naturalshores can remain or migrate inland.

To determine whether shoreline armoring has a serious cumu-lative impact, one must determine how much of the shore willbe armored, as well as the impacts of armoring. In the Stateof Washington, the general permit has been suspendedbecause armoring eliminates habitat for an endangeredsalmon - but what about the Delaware Estuary? The mapbelow depicts the Delaware Estuary from around Paulsboro,New Jersey downstream to the Salem Nuclear Plant. Localplanners expect that the areas depicted in black will be protect-ed with shoreline armoring, but that human activities will notimpede the landward migration in the areas depicted in gray.Substantially less than 50% of the Delaware Estuary shorewould be armored, according to these projections.

Would such a loss of land be acceptable? Around the nation,governments and conservancies handle this issue many differ-ent ways. Massachusetts prohibits all shoreline armoringexcept to protect homes built before 1978 along non-duneareas. Maine requires new homes to be moveable if theywould impede the inland migration of wetlands with a three-foot rise in sea level. On the other hand, when purchasingconservation easements along the shore, Maryland allowsproperty owners to retain the right to build an erosion controlstructure. To ensure that wetlands can migrate inland as sealevel rises, the PSEG Estuary Enhancement Program inCumberland County, New Jersey purchased land farther inlandthan would have been necessary to restore the wetlands thathad been impaired by dikes and other modifications. Someorganizations are considering the purchase of “rolling ease-ments”– a type of conservation easement that gives the

Uplands

Coastal Engineering Likely

Wetland Migration Likely

Wetlands

Fishing at low tide along the Delaware River at Church Landing, Pennsville, New Jersey, withthe Delaware Memorial Bridge in the background. Photo by Jim Titus.

Page 3Summer 2003

UPDATES FROM DELEP

landward migration of wetlands and beaches the right-of-wayover property owners that might otherwise prefer to block thelandward migration with a structure. Out on the barrier islandsof New Jersey, Avalon and other seaside towns have recentlyadopted policies to gradually elevate land and structures assea level rises.

Public ParticipationImplementation Team (PPIT)

The members of the PPIT have traditionally focused much oftheir time and efforts on the production of Estuary News,DELEP’s web page, managing the Delaware Estuary Programminigrant initiative, and habitat restoration work. In May, thePPIT held a retreat to further identify and refine specificactions items, work objectives, and priorities; to create a mis-sion statement; and to define their audience.

During the retreat, they identified the weaknesses and chal-lenges faced by the PPIT, including involving other stakehold-ers in the Estuary region, developing a consistent and uniformmessage, engaging and maximizing the resources of all part-ners. They also were able to identify opportunities for growth.After considerable discussion, the group adopted the followingmission statement:

“The PPIT works to encourage public appreciation and partici-pation in collaborative education and outreach initiatives thatimplement the Delaware Estuary Program’s ManagementPlan.”

Several action items came out of their efforts that will be incor-porated into their ongoing efforts to improve and expand thework of the PPIT. Some of the actions listed include: to identi-fy key audiences (media, legislators, decision-makers, andfoundations); to determine critical messages and the bestmeans to communicate those messages; to identify potentialpartners and determine their needs; and to identify opportuni-ties to link and maximize resources.

Aquatic Invaders Symposium: A First Step in Fighting Back

A collaborative effort made for a successful and interestingworkshop in May. The results of the Aquatic Invaders of theDelaware Estuary symposium increased awareness and willhopefully improve regional coordination in addressing aquaticinvasive species in our wetlands and waterways.

In response to this issue, DELEP has earmarked funding todevelop a careful science-based strategy to address detection,rapid response, and public informarion needs.

Across the United States, aquatic invasive species are threat-ening natural biodiversity, water-based recreation, tourism, andeven public health. More than 50,000 non-indigenous specieshave invaded the United States, and their ecological damagesand control costs total more than $137 billion per year. Theseecological and economic impacts also threaten the vitality ofthe Delaware Estuary. The pace of new invasions will onlyaccelerate without active prevention, public awareness, andregional coordination.

The symposium’s keynote speaker, Dr. David Pimentel, dis-cussed the environmental and economic costs associated withaquatic invasive species in the United States. Dr. Pimentel is a Professor of Insect Ecology and Agricultural Sciences atCornell University, and his research is the most comprehensiveanalysis made to date of the economic costs of invasivespecies.

Sponsors of the symposium included: the Partnership for theDelaware Estuary, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, the DelawareEstuary Program, the U.S. Department of Commerce’sNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and thePennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’sPennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program.

Proceedings from the Symposium will be available this fall.For more information, please email Ann Faulds [email protected] or Kirstin Wakefield [email protected].

Estuary News Is Available Online At

WWW.Delep.org.

If you are a current subscriber and would preferto view Estuary News online,

please let us know by sending an email to thePartnership for the Delaware Estuary

at [email protected]

Do our estuaries need plans to ensure that wetlands andbeaches survive as the sea continues to rise? Is it up to thefolks in Washington, D.C., or is it up to you?

For more information about sea level rise in the DelawareEstuary region, please contact Jim Titus at [email protected].

Page 4 Volume 13 / Issue 4

Abandoned mine gains new lifefrom Delaware River

By Jeff Jubelirer, Maritime Exchange for the

Delaware River and Bay

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection(DEP), in partnership with the Delaware River Port Authority(DRPA), recently embarked on a demonstration projectdesigned to prove the beneficial reuse of dredge material. Theproject: reclaiming a surface mine in Pennsylvania’s LehighValley. The mine, located on Pisgah Mountain in TamaquaBorough, (please see map on page 15 for location) measuresabout 700 feet long and 70 feet deep. It is just a small repre-sentation of the approximately 240,000 acres of abandonedsurface mines throughout Pennsylvania. Since December2002, a total of 50,000 cubic yards of dredge material hasbeen transported from the Delaware River to Tamaqua. It isserving as an effective way to fill in the abandoned mine andminimize numerous safety threats, including resident accidentsand land pollution caused by improper trash disposal. 1

According to the DEP, abandoned mines in the Commonwealthhave created a $15 billion problem. Since 1978, the state hasreceived $20 million a year from the Federal Abandoned MineTrust, but with an uncertain financial future, communities cop-ing with these hazards are seeking alternative ways to reclaimthe damaged land, and to improve the overall health of thelocal environment. The material dredged from the Delaware

1Additional hazards contributed by abandoned mines include open stripping pits,

mine fires and mine subsidements, which refer to underground mines that col-

lapse and eventually push to the surface of the land, causing homes and other

construction above to collapse as well. Mine areas must also contend with coal

waste piles, now useless mine processing equipment, and acid mine drainage,

which continues to contaminate about 2,500 miles of Pennsylvania streams.

Public Participation Implementation TeamKathy Klein(800) 445-4935 [email protected]

Habitat and Living ResourcesImplementation TeamMartha Maxwell-Doyle(609) 883-9500 ext. [email protected]

Fish Consumption Advisory Team Tom Fikslin, DRBC(609) 883-9500 ext. [email protected]

Monitoring Advisory CommitteeEdward Santoro, Monitoring Coordinator(609) 883-9500 ext. [email protected]

Information Management Advisory Committee Warren Huff, (609) 883-9500 ext. [email protected]

Toxics Advisory CommitteeTom Fikslin, DRBC(609) 883-9500 ext. [email protected]

TIDINGS: NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION

The meetings of the DELEP Implementation Teams and Advisory Committees occur on a regular basis and are open to thepublic. For meeting dates and times go to www.delep.org, or contact the individuals listed below:

River is an available, safe, and an immediate solution for theTamaqua community. Approximately five years ago, a similarproject commenced at Bark Camp in Clearfield County,Pennsylvania, where material dredged from the New YorkHarbor was blended with coal ash and waste lime to create ahard substance, which was used to fill surface mines in thatarea. To date, the project has enabled about a mile of land tobe returned to its original contour, and through testing, theaffected soil and water have been determined safe.

Tom Coia, of Global Remediation Technologies, Inc., the con-tractor for the Tamaqua demonstration project, believes the use of dredge material for mine reclamation “could solve awhole slew of environmental and economic problems for theCommonwealth.” He is proud to report that the Tamaqua proj-ect has been completed, thanks to the steady flow of 40–50trucks per day transporting about 20 cubic yards per truck, fora total of 800–1,100 cubic yards daily. At this time, the pit hasbeen filled-in, leaving a flat plateau. The site has been seededwith a mix of local grasses. In the future, the land will be re-graded and returned to its original contour.

The Delaware Estuary Program welcomes Peter Evans, our new Program Director.

WELCOME!

Page 5Summer 2003

To oversee the project and address any specific concerns andchallenges related to the land reclamation effort, Tamaqua created a project committee, whose members include a soilexpert, biology teacher, water filtration specialist, local busi-nessperson, and an industrial gases specialist. Weekly meet-ings, open to the public, kept all parties abreast of the project’sprogress and included updates from DEP, DRPA and the con-tractor. An independent testing firm, Benchmark Analytics,sampled the contents of the material taken out of deliverytrucks upon their arrival at Tamaqua, and reported that thematerial presents no danger to the land or its environment.Kevin Steigerwalt, Tamaqua’s City Manager, pointed out thatthe transported soil “tests better than native soil in somecases.” In addition, at the request of local environmentalgroups, water collection equipment is being installed at thebase of the pit to evaluate for any contamination that may seepthrough the 70 feet of silt and clay. The site itself is also moni-tored via video camera to ensure proper procedures are fol-lowed at all times.

Steigerwalt further remarked that the city council is “pleased”with the project’s progress and credits “open lines of communi-cation” among the groups as a large part of the success todate. The committee has faced less pubic criticism thanSteigerwalt expected, and he believes the direct responses ofthe committee and distribution of information to the public hashelped to alleviate concerns. Pamphlets describing the pro-ject’s aims and stages of development are available at theTamaqua borough office and local post office.

Micah Gursky, legislative assistant for State RepresentativeDave Argall and a member of the committee to monitor thedemonstration, also expressed his enthusiasm for the projectand was pleased to note that testing has revealed “no redflags.” Though he feels constituent concerns are to be expect-ed, “you can’t argue with positive results.” He also acknowl-edges the time and energy the various groups have put forth inorder to be responsive and “accessible” to the community andto keep the project within local control.

On behalf of the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, thegroup’s president Bill Reichert commented on the priorityestablished from the start of keeping the public fully informed.Schuylkill Headwaters was among the groups invited to review

the project and communicate the plan to the public. In doingso, Reichert believes that being upfront and open has provento be the “best approach.” Ed Wytovich, president of theEastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned MineReclamation, another member of the review board, feels theproject is useful to “find out objectively if [using dredge materi-al] is viable,” and thus far in the demonstration, comments: “sofar, so good.” The committee has operated on a principle stat-ed by Craig Morgan, district manager of the SchuylkillConservation District: “We are the organizations trying toreclaim our mine-scarred land and improve water quality andwe would not put the environment, county citizens, or our repu-tations at risk. We feel this is a win-win situation.”

A report issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in mid-December 2002 found that additional deepening of theDelaware River would result in a projected benefit of $1.18 forevery dollar spent on the dredging. This further strengthensthe mission to gain public approval and welcome cooperationto utilize this dredge material wherever it may benefit theState’s mine and quarry areas. Efforts to educate local envi-ronmental groups about this demonstration project and theprojected results continue to occur. Upon understanding thedetails and rewards of this project, more and more groups arereplacing their skepticism with support.

Material from the Delaware River has already been utilized toconstruct a new runaway at the Philadelphia InternationalAirport. In addition, New Jersey residents currently enjoy thebenefits of the reuse of dredged mine material when they takein the outdoor scenery at Palmyra Cove, listen to music on thegrass mound at the Tweeter Center, and spend time at the golfcourse and other recreational facilities of RiverWinds in WestDeptford.

For more information, please visithttp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/BAMR/tamaqua/homepage.htm.

Where in the Estuary are you?

For the answer, see Page 15

Tamaqua surface mine

Page 6 Volume 13 / Issue 4

MAKING WAVES

Delaware Estuary Spring 2003 Photo Album

On March 26, The Partnership for theDelaware Estuary’s Clean Water Theater produc-tion of All Washed Up! debuted at the Academyof Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. From left toright: Brooke Bonder, Glenn Townsend, andJerald Bennett. The setting for All Washed Up!was a riverfront urban park. The story wasbuilt around our three characters: a formervaudeville performer who is currently thecaretaker of the park and two rambunctiousbut responsive teens who use the park astheir hangout. Together, they explored theimportance of environmental stewardshipand clean water.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Delaware EstuaryProgram, and Philadelphia Water Department encouraged thegeneral public to recycle their used motor oil rather thandumping it down a storm drain, with the campaign, “If it ain’tRain, keep it outta the Drain.” Our public service announce-ment aired on ESPN, USA, the SciFi Channel, the DiscoveryChannel, and a host of other stations. Print advertisementsalso appeared on SEPTA public transit vehicles and in transitstations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration awarded the Partnership for theDelaware Estuary the 2003 NOAA Excellence Award for Coastal andOcean Management. Kathy Klein of the Partnership was present inWashington, DC to accept the Non-governmental Organization of theYear award, on March 19, from The Honorable Walter B. Jones, Jr.(left), and Jamie Hawkins, acting assistant administrator for NOAANational Ocean Service (right).

Lauren Rothbardt, a tenth grader at George Washington High School inNortheast Philadelphia, receivedHonorable Mention recognition at the2003 Clean Water Begins and Endswith You Drawing Contest award’sceremony held on April 22 at theSheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia. Lauren’s art-work was one of sixteen pieces selected out of more than1,000 entries. Presenting the awards in the ninth throughtwelfth grade category was Carol Collier, Executive Directorfrom the Delaware River Basin Commission, and Dee Rossfrom the Partnership.

Conectiv employees at the Carney’s Point NewJersey, facility plant a riparian buffer along aretention basin in May. (please see map on page15 for location)

Page 7Summer 2003

Food Movement and interpret and represent its philosophy atthe local level. The convivium leader raises the profile of prod-ucts and promotes local artisans by organizing tasting coursesand promulgating knowledge of the products and the areascuisine. In short, this person educates in matters of taste.

So what exactly is slow food? It really depends upon whereyou are. In general, these foods are part of our cultural identi-ty. In Italy, it may be a proscuitto or a farmhouse cheese,whose makers are dying off and with them the art of producingthat mouth-watering masterpiece. In Tennessee, it’s theBourbon Red Turkey, in Minnesota it’s Aged Dry Jack Cheese,and in the Delaware Estuary, it’s the Delaware Bay Oyster.

In mid-April, an event was held in Cape May to announce thecreation of a Slow Food Convivium in New Jersey to promote aDelaware Bay Oyster named the Cape May Salts. It is theirhope that with the oyster’s acceptance into the Slow Food Ark,that the Delaware Bay Oyster will be restored to its historicalplace as a staple among North American seafood. Behind thiseffort are James Tweed and Daniel Cohen of Atlantic CapesFisheries, Inc.; Jim Weaver, owner of Tre Pianni restaurant inPrinceton, New Jersey; and a host of Cape May restaurateursand businesspeople, who see this as a way not only to pre-serve one of the Delaware Estuary’s threatened species, butalso to boost the local economy.

The Slow Food Movement

By Joe Matassino, Deputy Director, Partnership

for the Delaware Estuary

In previous issues of Estuary News, our “Estuary Basics” sec-tion has traditionally taken on some fairly intense topics, suchas atmospheric deposition, acid mine drainage, total maximumdaily loads, combined sewer overflows, and polychlorinatedbiphenyl’s. In this issue, I suggest we break from tradition,slow down, and get back to basics.

There are people across the world who are trying to slow usdown…trying to persuade us to stop and smell the roses.These people are part of the Slow Food Movement. SlowFood U.S.A. “recognizes that the enjoyment of wholesome foodis essential to the pursuit of happiness.” As a group, they are“dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically soundfood production; to revival of the kitchen and the table as cen-ters of pleasure, culture and community; to the invigoration andproliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; and to liv-ing a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life.” Inspired byNoah’s Ark and its protection of animal species, Slow FoodU.S.A. has established Ark U.S.A. to identify, promote, and pro-tect foods in danger of extinction. Slow Food boasts 77,000members in 48 countries, organized into 700 local convivia orchapters. The convivia worldwide are the linchpins of the Slow

The Partnership for theDelaware Estuary embarked ona strategic planning processthis spring reviewing its missionand vision, and the strengthsand weaknesses of the organi-zation. The Partnership hopesto have a final product byNovember 2003.

ESTUARY BASICS

Page 8 Volume 13 / Issue 4

For years, over-harvesting and diseases such as MSX andDermo have drastically reduced the availability of the DelawareBay Oyster and the viability of the oyster industry. Last sum-mer, researchers at the HaskinsShellfish Laboratory and theCape Shore Laboratory, both inCape May County, New Jerseydeveloped a way to produceshellfish that are disease resist-ant. Scientists at the CapeShore lab began producing“triploid” disease resistantEastern oysters for commercialaquaculture. Shellfish withthree sets of chromosomes(triploids), rather than the usualtwo (diploids), typically growfaster because they are sterileand therefore do not wasteenergy producing gametes(reproductive cells). To be ableto commercially producetriploids, researchers at theHaskin lab have developedtetraploid oysters (four sets ofchromosomes), which can bebred with diploid oysters to pro-duce a constant supply of the fastgrowing triploids. The diseaseresistant oysters are individuallycultivated and are being locallymarketed as Cape May Salts, byAtlantic Capes Fisheries.

The Cape May Salts are grown in mesh bags on low-lyingracks along the bayshore, a method of production known as“bag and rack aquaculture.” The bag and rack system protectsthe oysters from predators such as oyster drills and whelks,

and since the inter-tidal racks are inun-dated with water half of the time andexposed to the air the other half, the oys-ters develop a tighter shell as theymature. This extends the shelf life of theoysters for market.

According to Atlantic Capes Fisheries,the Cape May Salts are ideal for the halfshell and raw bar market. They possessa superior taste to the traditionalDelaware Bay Oyster with the addedbenefits of consistency of quality,appearance, and size. For their Aprilevent, Slow Food International sent tworepresentatives from Italy (the birthplaceof the Movement) to sample the CapeMay Salts and to experience the historyand culture of Cape May. They leftunderstanding how important the oysteris to the Delaware Bay and are commit-ted to assisting in the promotion andmarketing of the Cape May Salts.

So, if you happen to be in Cape May thissummer, stop by the Union ParkRestaurant or the Lobster House andask for them by name. The Cape MaySalt a pleasurable slow food experience.

SPECIES SPECIFIC

ESTUARY BASICS continued

From the lab to the bayshore, oyster production becomes a high-tech business.

The Ribbed Mussel – A Key Playerin the Fringing Salt Marshes ofDelaware Bay

By Danielle Kreeger, Assistant Curator, Wetlands

Ecology Section Leader, Academy of Natural

Sciences

With one glance at the salt marshes fringing Delaware Bay, itbecomes immediately clear that these are very productive nat-ural systems – that is, they grow a lot of plants. Both freshwa-ter and saltwater marshes are found on both the eastern andwestern shores of Delaware Bay, from the Bay’s mouth all the way up to the head of tide near Trenton, New Jersey.Throughout these marshes, plant productivity rivals that of any

ecosystem in the world, including the much-heralded tropicalrain forests, prairie grasslands, and fertile coastal shelf waters.The plants that contribute to this incredible productivity includenot only the conspicuous vegetation such as the cordgrass,Spartina alterniflora, but also a rich community of microscopicalgae that live in the water or attached to the marsh bottom.

Why are these wetlands so productive? Marshes do not havea woody forest canopy, and so light and carbon dioxide arereadily available to promote plant growth. In addition, the tradi-tional view held by marsh ecologists is that shallow-watermarshes, such as those along Delaware Bay, are well suppliedwith nutrients carried by runoff and by the twice-a-day tides.

For more information, visitwww.slowfood.com

Page 9Summer 2003

In the salt marshes of the Bay, a closer look at the growthforms of cordgrass shows that the plants are usually taller nextto tidal channels where nutrients are more plentiful. In addi-tion, the growth of the plants on the high marsh has beenshown to increase when the surface is fertilized with nutrients.These observations indicate that the growth potential of saltmarsh plants might not be fully realized when viewed acrossthe entire expanse of the surface of the typical salt marsh.They might be “nutrient-limited,” particularly by forms of nitro-gen preferred by plants.

Marsh plants can be consumed bysome animals, broken down bymicrobial organisms, and otherwisereturned to the open Bay. However,a sizeable portion also get buried orare otherwise converted to forms oforganic matter that are less harmfulto the ecosystem than the raw nutri-ents that are originally used forplant growth. This means that morenutrients might be taken up fromthe open Bay waters by the plantsof salt marshes than are returned tothe open Bay in the form of plantmatter. Hence, we are increasingly interested in whether thesesalt marshes that fringe the Bay provide a key ecological serv-ice as a living “nutrient sponge” that helps to maintain overallwater quality in the Estuary at large.

Plants primarily take up nutrients through their root and rhi-zome structures within marsh sediments, rather than directlyfrom the water column. Yet, most of the nutrients entering themarsh from runoff or tidal exchange are in the water column aseither dissolved compounds or in the form of microscopic parti-cles such as algae. How do plants access these nutrientsentrained in the water column? Research completed over thepast few decades has increasingly suggested that fine particlefeeders (a.k.a. filter feeders, suspension-feeders) that also livein the salt marsh may play a key role as agents that removenutrient-laden matter and transfer it to the bottom sedimentswhere marsh plants can access it. In the salt marshes sur-rounding Delaware Bay, the kingpin of the marsh suspension-feeders is the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa.

Populations of ribbed mussels are very dense in most mid-Atlantic salt marshes where they live at an inter-tidal level inthe mud, attached to the roots of marsh plants. These animals

can be quite large(10–15 cm), and on thecreek banks where theyare most abundant, theycan reach densities of200–300 animals persquare meter. Thesebivalves feed by pump-ing copious quantities ofwater over their inflatedgills, which are speciallyadapted to collect

microscopic particles. These particles consist of dead organicmatter and a wide variety of microorganisms particularly micro-scopic algal cells that live in the water column or that get re-

suspended from the bottom sediments. In some mid-Atlanticmarshes, the mass of ribbed mussels has been estimated tooutweigh all of the other marsh animals combined. Senseeach adult mussel typically processes more than one liter ofwater per hour, ribbed mussel populations have collectivelybeen estimated to potentially filter the entire volume of waterflooding the marsh during each tide.

What happens to the vast quantities of microscopic organicmatter that mussels remove from the water column? Some of

the energy and nutrients that areingested get used by the musselsfor growth and reproduction, and asmall amount is excreted as dis-solved waste. But a large portionof this material flows through theanimals unused with a fate asbound fecal matter that getsdeposited on the marsh bottom.Some of the material collected onthe mussel’s gills is also rejected as“pseudofeces” (is never ingested atthe mouth), which also collects onthe bottom. By their sheer popula-

tion size and lifestyle, ribbed mussels are therefore responsiblefor depositing large quantities of bound waste products on themarsh surface. These wastes are usually enriched in nutrientscompared with the sediments, and marsh plants have greateraccess to these nutrients once they become part of the sedi-ment layer. The presence of healthy populations of ribbedmussels may therefore signal a healthy marsh, since these ani-mals are increasingly regarded as a primary control on overallplant production.

Like the Chesapeake and other mid-Atlantic estuaries, thehealth of Delaware Bay can become impaired by excess nutri-ent inputs, and nutrient control is an important element in ourstrategy to maintain the fitness of these systems. In additionto setting goals to limit nutrient inputs, we should also weighthe value of wetland preservation, restoration and creation asanother potential means to nutrient control. The significance ofthe ecological services provided by fringing salt marshes willlikely depend on the degree of tidal exchange and the health ofbiota that play key roles in the functional ecology of these nor-mally productive systems. In Delaware Bay, the ribbed musselis just such a key player.

For more information about the issues discussed in this article,please contact Danielle Kreeger at (215) 299-1184 [email protected].

Marsh dominated by smooth cordgrass

Mussel producing feces in laboratory beaker

Ribbed mussels in their natural environment

Page 10 Volume 13 / Issue 4

Pennsylvania’s Southeastern Coast

By Joseph Matassino, Deputy Director,

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Pennsylvania’s coast looks very different than it did during thedays of William Penn. The tree-lined shores and waterfront vil-lages have given way to millions of people and hundreds ofhigh-rise buildings, warehouses, and refineries. Despite itsindustrial landscape, the coast of Pennsylvania still has pock-ets of beauty and serenity scattered throughout its 57-miles.It is a place where people, history, commerce, and wildlife havefound a way to co-exist.

This region of Pennsylvania is referred to as a coastal zone.It extends from Morrisville to the Pennsylvania/Delaware stateline. (please see map on page 15 for location) It is in thisregion that the Delaware River is influenced by the high andlow tides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is producing abrochure, with funding from Pennsylvania’s Coastal ZoneManagement Program, to promote the area. Identified in the brochure will be listings of natural areas, recreationalresources, and locally owned and operated businesses andattractions that should be of interest to the out-of-state visit aswell as the casual tourist.

The coastal zone in Philadelphia is lined with an intricate arrayof highways and dead end streets, abandoned rail lines andactive yacht clubs, empty warehouses and revitalized riverfrontparks. The National Park Service has a recommendedDelaware River Bike Tour for visitors to this area ofPennsylvania. Their suggested route will take two-days.Traveling by car may be a better option. Safe bike routes arefew, road shoulders are narrow, and because this is, for themost part an industrial area, road surfaces can be rough andscattered with unexpected obstacles.

During our research for this brochure, we discovered someinteresting places. Located along Philadelphia’s NorthernDelaware Riverfront, Pleasant Hill Park, Tacony Park, andPenn Treaty Park all provide public access to the DelawareRiver. Public boat ramps, restroom facilities, parking, and con-cessions in the summer months are the types of accommoda-tions you could expect to find.

Once an industrial giant, the small borough of Marcus Hook, in Delaware County, is looking to the riverfront to redirect itsfuture. Market Square Memorial Park is a well-tended grassyenclave with benches and paved walkways. It offers a strikingview of commercial tankers traveling on the River or docked onthe shore. Every year since 1985, the Pioneer, the only iron-hulled schooner in existence, travels back to Marcus Hookwhere it was originally built in 1885.

In Bucks County, the thriving town of Bristol is well in-touchwith its history and future as a waterfront community. Thenearby waterfront mansions of Pennsbury Manor, Glen Foerd,and Andalusia tell, within their amazing architecture, a gentilestory of our forbearers. The little community of Echo Beach,may make you feel like you’re at the Jersey Shore, but don’t befooled, that body of water is the Delaware River.

By exploring Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Coastal Zone, youwill learn more about the history, culture, and opportunities ofthis region, than any guidebook is able to offer. So strap on aseat belt, or a bike helmet, because you’re in for a treat.

The Partnership looks forward to adding this brochure to ourcollection of ecotourism brochures we have produced for areaswithin the Delaware Estuary. To be put on a list to receive thebrochure once completed, or to receive one of our otherbrochures (Cohansey, Rancocas, and St. Jones), please contact the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 1-800-445-4935 ext.18.

estuary excursions

Pennsylvania’s coast is hard at work. Photo by Kathy Klein.

Page 11Summer 2003

A Long History and PromisingFuture for the Delaware RiverYachtsmen’s League

By Jerry Donofrio Sr., Chairman, Boater Voter

Coalition

The Delaware River Yachtsmen’s League (DRYL) was foundedin 1914 at the home of Frederick von Neida in Camden, NewJersey. Few yachtsmen are alive today who remember whenthe DRYL was organized by a group of representatives fromprominent yacht clubs. The goal of von Neida was to improvethe destiny of the yachtsmen on the Delaware River. A goalwe still struggle towards today.

The five clubs that initially formed the DRYL were the CamdenYacht Club (recently reborn), the Columbia Yacht Club foundedin 1874; the Farragut Sportsmen’s Association, 1906; and theTrenton Yacht Club and Wissinoming Yacht Club, 1909. JohnMiller of Trenton was elected as the League’s first president.For the first 40 years of the League’s existence, there wereonly five presidents.

During this time, Frederick von Neida served as secretary ofthe DRYL for a period of 37 years. He was also President ofthe Farragut Sportsmen’s Association of Camden. He waslater recognized by everyone in the region as an outstandingfigure and was later elected (1935–36) Mayor of Camden, New Jersey. Today you can find an 18-acre park named in hishonor in the Cramer Hill area of Camden on Harrison Avenue,not far from his beloved waterway.

From modest beginnings, the DRYL has grown to 36 clubs andthree organizations encompassing an area from Trenton(Capital City Yacht Club) to the Atlantic Ocean (Lagoon ViewYacht Club). Frederick von Neida certainly would be proud ofthe success of the Delaware River Yachtsmen’s League as itapproaches its 90th year. Annually, the DRYL celebrates thememory and name of the founder by holding a grand picnic inhis honor. The “Annual von Neida Picnic” is held at a sponsor-ing club along the Delaware River and is attended by as manyas 350 boating enthusiasts.

The DRYL Member Clubs meet monthly with each club send-ing delegates to represent the more than 5,000 boaters, whoare located within the tidal Estuary. Although representing onlya percentage of the total number of recreational boaters in theregion, the DRYL, because of its organization, influence, andoutreach, strives to serve the interest of all responsible boatersof the Delaware River. The DRYL functions as “The Voice ofthe Delaware River Recreational Boater.”

In 1997, in an effort to strengthen its influence, the DRYLformed an official affiliation with the Chesapeake Bay YachtClubs Association (CBYCA). This larger organization is com-posed of 65,000 boaters from 133 Clubs. Together, the DRYL

and CBYCA represent boating interests in the five-state regionof New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, andVirginia.

The DRYL also has a working relationship with the BoaterVoter Coalition, Inc., Pennsylvania Boating AssociationSoutheast, U.S. Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary,and the National Boating Federation. The DRYL has manycommittees which work to improve our environment and boat-ing pleasure not the least of which is the Shoreline PlanningCommittee, which studies various aspects of improvements toaccess points for all types of boaters.

Many of the same goals are shared with other members of thepartnership organizations to improve the Delaware River.Boating, by its inherent nature, is a water born activity.Boaters swim, fish, and recreate in direct contact with theDelaware River. We recognize our obligation to protect, pre-serve and sustain the River. The DRYL has been part of theDelaware River for hundreds of years and needs to continuevigilance to improve the conditions not only for its current resi-dents, but for the next generations.

For more informationabout the Delaware RiverYachtsmen’s League,please contact Gerald Donofrio [email protected], or visitwww.dryl.org.

NEWS IN A FLASH

to be periodically updated about volunteer activities, events, and programs taking place in the Delaware Estuary, sendyour email address with yourname and phone number torossD@delaware estuary.org

estuary spotlight

Page 12 Volume 13 / Issue 4

“Don’t Rock the Boat,” saysDelaware’s Office of BoatingEducation

Something for Delaware’s teachers to think about over thesummer…the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife Office ofBoating Education conducts several boating safety educationcourses for schools, private organizations, clubs, and the pub-lic at no cost. Boating education teaches boaters to be safe,knowledgeable, and responsible. With more and more peopleenjoying the ocean, lakes, and rivers every year, it is important,for everyone, that boaters educate themselves on boating skillsand seamanship. The office’s programs also provide a forumthrough which students, parents, faculty, and enforcementagents can become acquainted with Delaware’s youth.

For Grades K–3, a 30-minute Water Safety Presentationaccommodates up to 200 students per session, or a classroomof 30. This includes a basic water safety and life jacket discus-sion, review of the water safety-coloring book, and a 7-minutevideo entitled “Better Safe than Sorry.”

Grades 4-8 are offered a 25-minute Water Safety Program,which can accommodate up to 200 students per session orclassroom. It includes a 15-minute video, basics on watersafety, life jacket demonstration, and a discussion about the“ABC’s of Water and Boating Safety.”

The office also offers a life jacket demonstration for Grades3–6 and class-sizes of 10–30 students. Program includesSidekicks, a Boating and Water Safety workbook, which takesapproximately one hour to complete and requires the use ofscissors, tape, and pencils.

For Grades 7–12, the Fatal Vision Program demonstrates thedangers of drinking alcoholic beverages and operating a boat,with the use of Fatal Vision Goggles. This program is offeredto children in all schools and special events.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife Office of Boating Educationand the Delaware Safety Council have created a “Do itYourself” Awareness Package with hopes of educating youngchildren in boating and water safety issues. They feel that thisprogram is a great way to teach children statewide water safe-ty. This program can be used for special projects, for whichthey will furnish all materials for the classroom at no cost to theteacher or the school.

For more information about Delaware’s boating safety courses,please contact Joyce Hennessey [email protected].

What’s Your H2O IQ?

It’s test-taking time! Exactly how muchdo you know about water? Pleasesharpen your No. 2 pencil and prepareto answer the following nine questionsposed by the Lake ArrowheadCommunity Services District in the Stateof California.

Questions (The answers are highlighted below.)

1. What percentage of the world is covered by water?

2. What percentage of the world’s water is readily availablefor humans to use?

3. How much water is contained in the human body?

4. Which contains more water as a percentage of bodyweight, a woman’s or a man’s body?

5. Why do male and female bodies tend to have different amounts of water?

6. How much water does the human body lose in a typical day?

7. Why is water especially good for people on a diet?

8. What is the largest use of water outdoors? How about indoors?

9. Public water systems produce billions of gallons of drink-ing water every day - more than 180 gallons per person.What percentage of that is consumed by people?

Ordinary water is a valuable natural resource. Safe, reliable,good-tasting drinking water is a carefully manufactured prod-uct. It’s collected, treated, tested, and delivered to your homeand business 24 hours a day. Use it wisely and with confi-dence for your pleasure and good health.

Answers1. Some 80% of the world is covered by water or ice. Only

about 20% is dry land.

2. 97% of the water on Earth is salty ocean and 2% isfrozen. The remaining 1% is available to meet humanneeds.

3. If you’re an adult, your body contains about 40 quarts or10 gallons of water.

TEACHERS PAGE

Page 13Summer 2003

ESTUARY EVENTS

Preschool NaturalistThursday, July 31, 2003, 10 – 11 a.m.Delaware National Estuarine Research ReserveDover, DelawareStart your children on a path to environmental appreciation asa preschool naturalist. Join the staff at the St. Jones Reservefor a kid-friendly story and craft session about coastal science.Ages two through five. For more information, please call (302) 739-3436.

Paddock Pond ExplorationSaturday, August 2, 2003, 1 p.m.Bellevue State Park Wilmington, DelawareDid you know that Bellevue has a little-known pond that isinhabited with birds, frogs, dragonflies, and wetland plants?

Join park staff in this hands-on program as you explore thisunique habitat. Expect to get wet! Ages nine through adult.Meet at the Arts Center. For more information, please call(302) 793-3046.

Bird WalkSunday, August 3, 2003, 9 a.m.John Heinz National Wildlife Refugeat TinicumPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaFollow Mike Ferguson on a walkthroughout the Refuge to identify vari-ous species of birds. For more infor-mation, please call (215) 365-3118.

Volunteers Needed!

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is looking for afew good volunteers.

Please check any areas that may be of interest to you, andthen fax or mail the form back to us. We will contact you tointroduce ourselves and to better acquaint you with the workthat we do.

____ Habitat Restoration (ongoing) Our habitat program isgrowing and we sometimes need assistance with therestoration work, picking-up and dropping-off plant materials, etc.

____ Coast Day (September 20) We’ll need help the day of the event: set-up, trouble shooting, clean-up, trafficcontrol, etc.

____ Experience the Estuary Celebration (October 2) Are yougood at getting donations from local retailers? Day-ofassistance with set-up would also be helpful.

Name:_____________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________

City: _____________________________State:____________

Zip:_______________________________________________

Telephone: (_______) ________________________________

Email:_____________________________________________

Watershed:_________________________________________

__________________________________________________

4. A man’s body is 60–65% water. A woman’s is 50–60%water. The human brain is about 75% water.

5. Muscle tissue contains a large amount of water. Fat tis-sue contains virtually no water. Men tend to have moremuscle as a percentage of body weight while womenhave more fat.

6. You lose 2.5 to 3 quarts of water per day through normalelimination, sweating, and breathing. If you exercise orlive in a humid climate, you may lose another quart.

7. It has zero calories and zero sugar. A good drink ofwater can reduce hunger. Water also helps your bodymetabolize stored fats, helps maintain proper muscletone, and helps rid the body of wastes.

8. Lawn sprinkling uses the most water outdoors. Inside,toilets use the most, with an average of 27 gallons perperson per day. Laundry averages 17 gallons per per-son per day and showers 14 gallons.

9. Typically, less than 1% of the treated drinking water pro-duced by utilities is actually consumed by people. Mostis used for lawns, showers and tubs, toilets, etc.

Page 14 Volume 13 / Issue 4

Seining ProgramMonday, August 11, 2003, 9 a.m. (held every Mon., Weds.,

and Fri. at 9 a.m. until Sept. 1)Cape Henlopen State ParkLewes, DelawareInvestigate the diversity of life in the shallows of Delaware Bayusing a 30-foot net. This interactive program will introduce youto the unique and valuable organisms that inhabit our marinewaters. Participants are encouraged to get in the water andpull the nets, so you must wear closed-toe shoes at all timesduring the program. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on the day ofthe program. Programs will begin as soon as all tickets aresold, or no later than 9:15 a.m. Maximum of six tickets perperson. Program is limited to 30. $3 per person. For moreinformation, please call (302) 645-6852.

Garrison WeekendAugust 16 & 17, 2003Fort DelawareDelaware City, DelawareExperience life as it was on Pea Patch Island in 1863. Walkamong Confederate prisoners, Union guards, and civilians inthis living history event. For more information, please call(302) 834-7941.

Evening Canoeing on Dragon Run MarshSaturday, August 23, 2003, 5 – 9 p.m.Delaware Nature SocietyDelaware City, DelawareWatch dusk fall whilecanoeing on one ofNew Castle County’soutstanding naturalareas, Dragon RunMarsh. Bring a picnicsupper packed inwaterproof containers.Children must be atleast 8 years old and accompanied by an adult. No previouscanoeing experience is needed. Fee/person: Members $15,others $25 (fee includes van transportation, canoes, and pre-servers). For more information, please call (302) 239-2334.

Nighttime on the BeachThursday, August 28, 2003, 8 – 9 p.m.Nature Center of Cape MayCape May, New JerseyWho can run sideways? Dig a hole without a shovel? Andhas 10 legs? Join the staff of the Nature Center for a stroll onCape May beach to look for these “ghosts” of the night! Meetat the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (the Meadows) parkinglot on Sunset Boulevard, and bring a flashlight. There is a costof $10 for member and $12 for nonmembers. For more infor-mation, please call (609) 898-8848.

Brandywine Arts FestivalSeptember 6 & 7, 2003Brandywine ParkWilmington, DelawareTwo hundred artists and crafters exhibit along the banks of theBrandywine Creek. This is always a fun and relaxing dayalong a very scenic part of the creek. For more information,please call (302) 529-0761.

21st Annual Wings ‘n Water FestivalSeptember 13 & 14, 2003The Wetlands InstituteStone Harbor, New JerseyAmidst folk music, down Jersey food, pumpkins and cornstalks, meet nationally acclaimed artists, carvers, modelbuilders, quilters, crafters, and photographers. Talk with them,buy from them, and learn from a multitude of demonstrations,guided walks, and hands-on encounters. For more informa-tion, please call (609) 368-1211.

A Day in the WoodsSaturday, September 20, 2003, 9 a.m.Brandywine ConservancyChadds Ford, PennsylvaniaJoin Thom Larson, the Brandywine Conservancy’s LandManager, for a discussion on forestry for landowners and anexamination of approximately 75 acres of managed woodlandsat the Conservancy’s Miller Farm. Limited to 20 people. Formore information or to register, please call (610) 388-8340.

Feathered and Fearless - Pennsylvania’s Birds of PreySaturday, September 27, 2003, 2 – 3 p.m.Schuylkill Center for Environmental EducationPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaMeet a live raptor from the Schuylkill Center’s Rehab Clinic andfind out how these awesome predators make their living. Opento all ages. There is a cost of $3 for members and $5 for non-members. For more information, please call (215) 482-7300.

National Estuaries DaySaturday, September 27, 2003The United States Environmental Protection Agency and theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration havedeclared this date as a day to celebrate the diversity of the 28estuaries that comprise the National Estuary Program. Take afew moments, on your own, to enjoy the beaches of the CapeMay Bayshore, to hike along the streams at White Clay CreekState Park in Delaware, or to paddle the Rancocas Creek inSouth Jersey.

Experience the Estuary CelebrationThursday, October 2, 2003Lloyd Hall, Fairmount ParkPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is creating our owntropical paradise at our Fifth Annual Experience the EstuaryCelebration. The evening will feature a reception, silent auc-tion, dinner, and the Fourth Annual Excellence in the EstuaryAwards. For ticket information, please call 1-800-445-4935.

ESTUARY EVENTS continued

Page 15Summer 2003

P lease use the map below to locate the places, towns, or waterwaysmentioned in the articles in this edition of Estuary News. We hope this

feature will help to enhance your knowledge of the Estuary region and toencourage you to explore its fascinating resources.

1

3

4

5

2Deleware EstuaryProgram Study Area

Map Key1. Delaware Bay2. Tamaqua3. Carney’s Point4. S.E. Pennsylvania Coastal Zone5. Marcus Hook

Where in the Estuary are you?Answer from page 5

You are enjoying the viewfrom Market SquareMemorial Park, right alongthe Delaware River inMarcus Hook, Pennsylvania.(please see map on left forlocation)

COAST TO COAST…

Which Coast are you celebrating?

Pennsylvania Coast DaySaturday, September 20, 2003Fairmount Water WorksPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaCome discover the treasurers ofPennsylvania’s coast. This Second AnnualSoutheastern Pennsylvania Coast Day celebration willfeature family-oriented entertainment, a treasure huntarea, hands-on activities, food, music, and fun. Formore information, please call 1-800-445-4935 or visitwww.DelawareEstuary.org.

Coast Day DelawareSunday, October 5, 2003University of DelawareCollege of Marine StudiesLewes, DelawareDiscover the fascinating world of marine science.This award-winning event includes lectures, shiptours, marine critter touch tanks, children’s activities,a nautical craft show, crab cake cook-off, seafoodchowder challenge, and much more. For more infor-mation, please call (302) 831-8083 or dive intowww.ocean.udel.edu.

Coast Day New JerseySaturday, October 11, 2003Long Beach IslandSunday, October 12, 2003Cape May Celebrates NJ’s marine andcoastal environment and all thatit provides. You’ll enjoy music, dock and ship tours,eco-tours, and lots of “hands-on” family fun designedto help you learn more about New Jersey’s 127-milecoastline. Meet scientists, researchers, educators,commercial fishers, and government agencies all onhand to tell you about their work and their programs.Best of all, you’ll discover what you can do now topreserve and sustain our coastal environment forgenerations to come. For more information, pleasecall (732) 872-1300 ext. 22.

Photo by Joe Matassino.

Estuary News

Delaware EstuaryProgram

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc.400 West Ninth Street, Suite 100Wilmington, DE 19801

Address Service Requested

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc.Kathy Klein, Executive DirectorTel: (800) 445-4935 ext. 16E-mail: [email protected]

Delaware Estuary ProgramPeter H. Evans, Program DirectorTel: (609) 883-9500 ext. 217 / Fax: (609) [email protected]

Martha Maxwell DoyleAssistant DirectorTel: (609) 883-9500 ext. 215 / Fax: (609) [email protected]

Environmental Protection AgencyIrene Purdy, EPA Region IITel: (212) 637-3845 / Fax: (212) 637-3889E-mail: [email protected]

Jamie Davis, EPA Region IIITel: (215) 814-5569 / Fax: (215) 814-2782E-mail: [email protected]

PennsylvaniaJames GrabuskyDepartment of Environmental ProtectionTel: (610) 832-6191 / Fax: (610) 832-6022E-mail: [email protected]

DelawareJohn KennelDepartment of Natural Resources and Environmental ControlTel: (302) 739-5726 ext.109 / Fax: (302) 739-3491E-mail: [email protected]

New JerseyJay SpringerDepartment of Environmental ProtectionTel: (609) 341-3122 / Fax: (609) 633-1458E-mail: [email protected]

Delaware River Basin CommissionWarren HuffTel: (609) 883-9500 ext. 237 / Fax: (609) 883-9522E-mail: [email protected]

EditorJoe Matassino, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Layout & DesignGreg Gambino

Printed on recycled Paper

US PostageNon-Profit Org

PAIDWilmington, DEPermit #1885

The Estuary News encourages reprinting of its articles in other publications. Estuary News is published quarterly bythe Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc., under an assistance agreement (CE-993985-05-0) with the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of this newsletter is to provide an open, informative dialogueon issues related to the Delaware Estuary Program. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent theviews of the Partnership or EPA, nor does mention of names, commercial products or causes constitute endorsementor recommendation for use. For information about the Delaware Estuary Program, call 1-800-445-4935.

What is the Delaware Estuary Program?The Delaware Estuary Program (DELEP) is a partnership of governmentalagencies, nonprofits, the private sector, and citizens working together torestore and protect the Delaware Estuary. It was established in 1988 andis one of 28 national estuary programs around the nation. To learn moreabout DELEP activities, visit www.delep.org.

WHO IS THE PARTNERSHIP?The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. is a private, nonprofitorganization established in 1996. The Partnership promotes the estuaryas a regional resource through public outreach and education. It also servesas the education, outreach, and fundraising arm for the Delaware EstuaryProgram. To find out how you can become one of our partners, call thePartnership at 1-800-445-4935 or visit our website at www.DelawareEstuary.org.

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