Newsletter | December 2018
December Clean Water Tip: Save Your Salt!

The salt you use to de-ice your walkways gets carried with ice melt into our streams and rivers. High levels of salt in the water can harm plants, fish, and wildlife. Use sand or other alternatives to improve grip and point downspouts away from pavement to reduce ice!
Welcome New Clean Water Alliance Member: Birdsong Gardens
The Clean Water Alliance is happy to welcome Birdsong Gardens to our coalition of organizations, businesses, clubs, and other stakeholders that care about clean water! Birdsong Gardens is a non-profit, environmental research facility in Sussex County. They actively work to improve the health of our waterways through research, preservation, and restoration of lost buffers and habitat. Two of their ongoing projects include the restoration of their monarch/milkweed preserve to boost monarch populations and the Delaware Estuary Clarity project, which uses mussels and duckweed to remove pollutants.
Climate Change Report and Extreme Weather Events in the Mid-Atlantic
The federal government recently released its latest climate change report, the Fourth National Climate Assessment . The report looks at new risks we could face if we don't reduce our carbon emissions. What does this mean for our region? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Mid Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (MARISA) team used regionally specific climate data sets and extreme weather events to project future climate impacts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. MARISA's findings indicate the watershed could see a doubling of extreme precipitation (2-3 inches) events and increased incidents of flooding if we do not reduce our carbon emissions. Delaware is recognized as a leader in planning for climate change and sea level rise, but more can be done to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and to protect against flooding.
Wilmington Wetland Park gets $3 Million in Federal Grant Funding
South Wilmington Wetland Project
Thanks to a $3 million federal grant, the City of Wilmington will be moving forward with its 14-acre wetland park project! The future park will play a pivotal role in absorbing the Christina River's flood waters that often plague the Southbridge section of the city. The new park design will not only ease flooding, but will also allow the community to experience a natural escape right at their back door. The park will feature Delaware's native wetland species, including the bald cypress tree. The project is slated to begin in April 2019 and could be open as soon as 2020. Wondering what a restored wetland looks like? Head over to the DuPont Environmental Education Center and its nearby riverwalk to enjoy the natural beauty of wetlands!
What to Build or Buy a Delaware Beach House?
Homeowners are continuing to invest in Delaware's beachfront property, but living along the coast comes with its own unique set of risks according to new Climate Central analysis. Many new homes are being built in low-lying coastal regions that might be seeing regular flooding soon because of sea level rise. Reporter Maddy Lauria writes about the susceptibility of Delaware's beach towns to increased flooding in the coming decades.
Upcoming Events
Pre-registration may apply

January 1, 10:00-10:30am
Wilmington, DE

January 19, 8am-12pm
DE Seashore State Park

SAVE THE DATE!
Clean Water Lobby Day*
January 22, 12:30-4:00pm
Dover
*Carpool available from Hockessin

January 23, 6-7:30pm
DEEC

January 27-30
Cape May, NJ

February 13, 5:30-7:30pm
DEEC
Contact the Clean Water Campaign

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Please contact us at Laura@DelNature.org

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