Delaware Ocean and Bay Activity Guide

The Delaware Ocean and Bay Activity Guide is one of three core components of the Delaware Ocean and Bay Plan. It serves as an inventory of the marine activities and resource types occurring off Delaware’s coast. Insights into marine activities and current uses, in both a spatial and temporal context, were provided

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Marine Minerals

Activities associated with marine minerals are foundational elements of Delaware’s blue economy and environment. Sand and dredging support coastal resilience by replenishing beaches and maintaining navigable waterways critical for commerce and recreation. These activities also help protect coastal communities from erosion and storm impacts. While no other minerals, including oil, gas and sulfur, are currently

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Submarine Infrastructure

Submarine infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines, along with archaeological resources and artificial reefs, form both the literal and figurative foundation of Delaware’s blue economy and environment. On the seafloor, these structures support essential services like communication, energy transmission and habitat creation. Archaeological resources are records of the past, while artificial reefs enhance biodiversity and

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Water Quality

Water quality is a key element in planning for a healthy blue environment. Clean water supports the survival of marine life, sustains critical habitats and ensures safe conditions for recreation and fisheries. Poor water quality, caused by pollutants, excess nutrients or acidification, can lead to harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation and reduced survival in marine

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Natural Resources

The marine resources off Delaware’s coast are forced to adapt to increased human interactions and disturbances, known as anthropogenic impacts, warming waters and acidification. As essential components of Delaware’s ecosystem, marine resources in the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay provide ecosystem services such as supporting biodiversity, regulating climate, absorbing carbon dioxide and providing clean air.

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Marine Resource Conservation

Marine resource conservation is essential to maintaining a healthy blue environment off Delaware’s coast, ensuring the long-term sustainability of ecosystems that support commercial and recreational activities. By protecting habitats such as deep-sea corals and areas important to breeding populations of marine organisms, conservation efforts help preserve biodiversity and improve water quality. Thoughtful planning that considers

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Offshore Energy

Offshore energy is an emerging facet of Delaware’s blue economy, with offshore wind leading the way in providing clean power, economic investment and job creation. Projects like US Wind’s MarWin and Ørsted’s Skipjack are expected to deliver over a gigawatt of power. Newer technologies and forms of marine energy being explored in other parts of

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Maritime Activities

Maritime activities are vital to Delaware’s blue economy, supporting jobs, economic growth and coastal communities. Marine transportation facilitates the movement of goods through the Port of Wilmington, a key regional hub. Commercial fishing and aquaculture contribute to the state’s seafood industry and cultural heritage, while military operations provide national security and generate local economic activity.

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Recreation and Tourism

Recreation and tourism play a major role in Delaware’s blue economy, supporting a wide range of businesses in Delaware, such as restaurants, hotels, marinas and sporting goods stores, especially in the summer months when beach visitation is at its peak. Recreation Photo: Sharon Denny The

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June is Ocean Month

Every June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) celebrates Ocean Month, a time dedicated to honoring the state’s rich coastal heritage and the vital role the ocean plays in our environment, economy and way of life. With 381 miles of shoreline, vibrant coastal communities and diverse marine ecosystems, Delaware’s connection to

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US Wind Federal Consistency Certifications

The DNREC Coastal Management Program (DCMP) received two federal consistency certifications (pursuant to 15 CFR 930 subparts D and E) for the proposed US Wind Project proposed off the coast of Maryland with landfall at 3R’s Beach and interconnection on tax parcel 233-2.00-2.01 adjacent to the Indian River Power Plant in Sussex County, Delaware.

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Voices of the Tide: Stories of Connection with the Ocean

To celebrate Ocean Month, in June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is exploring the stories of our connections with the ocean. It starts with an invitation to all to share their own stories of connection with the sea. Submissions for the Voices of the Tide

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Resilient Communities

Communities throughout Delaware are threatened by inland flooding, coastal storms, sea level rise, and changing climate conditions. The Resilient Community Partnership helps communities prepare to respond to coastal hazards. The

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Resilient Community Partnership: Town of Milton

The Town of Milton and DNREC have teamed up to create a shoreline stabilization design for Memorial Park and the associated southern shoreline of the Broadkill River near the town’s emergency services offices. The Town of Milton, in Sussex County, has its historic roots embedded at the headwaters

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Resilient Communities Partnership: Fenwick Island

The Town of Fenwick Island and DNREC have partnered to develop a resiliency plan to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of sea level rise on Fenwick Island and enhance the community’s overall resiliency. The Town of Fenwick Island is particularly at risk to sea level rise due to

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Resilient Communities Partnership: City of Lewes

DNREC and the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration worked together in 2021 to provide a full spectrum of technical, policy and outreach support for the Lewes Resilient Communities Partnership project. They worked closely with a city committee to help the city and its residents better understand the environmental challenges that impact them and

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Phragmites Management

Phragmites (Phragmites australis) can become invasive in tidal or nontidal freshwater or brackish marshes, ponds or impoundments. This training workshop from the DNREC Coastal Training Program teaches phragmites management in saltmarsh ecosystems. This workshop focuses on phragmites management using current research, experience and unbiased explanations of phragmites impacts, benefits

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Federal Consistency Review Responses

This page is a collection of Coastal Zone Management Federal Consistency review responses from DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs. Federal Consistency Reviews help ensure that state and federal actions in the Coastal Zone are consistent and coordinated. Activity reviews requiring public notification are posted on the DNREC Public Notices page.

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For Kids and Families

DNREC’s National Estuarine Research Reserve offers a variety of fun and educational activities for children and adults on Reserve property and along the Delaware Bayshore. All activities are free. Most require pre-registration. Delaware National Estuarine

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Ocean Planning

Delaware Coastal Programs supports the long-term economic and ecological health of the Mid-Atlantic through regional ocean planning efforts. Delaware Ocean and Bay Plan

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I-ADAPT Definitions

The following is a glossary of terms used throughout the I-ADAPT tool and associated documents. The definitions are organized alphabetically. 100-year floodplain: According to FEMA, the 100-year floodplain is the boundary of the flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given

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I-ADAPT: A Flood Planning and Adaptation Tool

The Individual Adaptation Decision and Planning Tool, I-ADAPT, is designed to help Delaware residents adapt to increased flooding. Users enter information about their property and the tool generates recommendations on how to lower their flood risk.  As Delaware residents experience flooding events more frequently due to climate change induced sea

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Flooding Adaptation Strategies

This page lists all of the flooding adaptation strategies and their associated informational documents available through the I-ADAPT Tool.  The adaptation strategies are listed by category — Interior, Exterior, Shoreline, Yard and Other adaptations — and alphabetically. Interior Adaptations Backflow

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How to Use the I-ADAPT Tool

The I-ADAPT tool will ask a series of questions about your property and personal preferences. These questions are used to develop recommended strategies based on the specific information about your property. The questions span several pages within the tool. To toggle between these pages, select the “Next” button at

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Additional Resources

This page lists additional resources that are referenced throughout the adaptation strategy documents associated with the I-ADAPT planning tool.  These resources are listed alphabetically. C Community Rating System D Delaware

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Delaware Ocean and Bay Plan

DNREC’s Coastal Programs is spearheading the development of a Delaware Ocean and Bay Plan to identify responsible management and stewardship practices that are applicable to the use and conservation of marine resources off Delaware’s coast. Ocean and Bay Planning Area [button

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Coastal Zone Act Application Materials

Manufacturing, heavy industry, and bulk product transfer activities since 1971 in Delaware’s coastal zone require a coastal zone permit in addition to other applicable DNREC permits. CZA Program 302-739-9283 [modal text=”Get Email Updates” title=”Subscribe to the Coastal Zone Act

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Delaware Coastal Zone Act Program

The Coastal Zone Act regulates new and existing manufacturing, heavy industry, and bulk product transfer activities in Delaware’s coastal zone through a permitting system. CZA Program 302-739-9283 [modal text=”Get Email Updates” title=”Subscribe to the Coastal Zone Act Email List”

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Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board

The Delaware Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board hears appeals of decisions made by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) under the Delaware Coastal Zone Act. Administrative Contact Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board 89 Kings

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History of the Coastal Zone Act

Then-Governor Russell Peterson and the Delaware General Assembly passed the Delaware Coastal Zone Act (CZA) in 1971. It was signed into law on June 28, 1971. The Act is designed to protect the coastal areas from the impacts of heavy industrialization and bulk product transfer and safeguard their use primarily for recreation and tourism.

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Coastal Research

DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs conducts a variety of coastal research programs to study the affects of climate change, impacts from human pollutants, and other factors impacting the changing coastal environment of Delaware.

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Collaborations

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) collaborates with various partner organizations and hosts visiting scientists who conduct research of local and national significance that focuses on enhancing coastal management. SETr

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City of New Castle Ecosystem Assessment and Enhancement Project

The City of New Castle and DNREC have partnered for a study to determine the potential impacts of various sea level rise scenarios on the city’s ecosystems. The Ecosystem Assessment and Enhancement Project is based on the recommendations of a previous city/state partnership. It will

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Climate Communications Training

It is possible to facilitate informative and empowering conversations about climate change. In this two-day course, participants will learn about strategic framing – a research based approach to communication that engages audiences in thinking productively about how they can participate in creating or supporting solutions to climate change. Overview

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Resilient Community Partnership: Atlantic Coast Communities and Lewes

DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs (DCP) office has partnered with a group of seven unique coastal municipalities on a comprehensive assessment of impervious surface coverage. The project will produce community-specific strategies for reducing existing and future impervious surface coverage and increasing stormwater infiltration. Local Leadership [column

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Coastal Zone Conversion Permits Open Houses

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is seeking input on the preliminary recommendations made by the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee. February 25, in Claymont February 26, in Delaware

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CZCPA Work Groups

Four Work Groups were formed to provide technical support to the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act (CZCPA) Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC). This page contains information about each of the four Work Groups, including focus areas and meeting materials. Due to the complex nature of many topics addressed in the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act,

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CZCPA Regulatory Advisory Committee

In June 2018, DNREC assembled the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act (CZCPA) Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) to provide guidance and feedback to DNREC on the development of regulations under the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act. This page contains all information and materials from Committee meetings, including the RAC’s final recommendations. Regulatory

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New Castle Resilient Community Events

The public participation portion of the City of New Castle Resilient Community Partnership included a series of public meetings at which residents and stakeholders were able to brainstorm and contribute their input to the partnership. March 14, 2018 Resilient Community Partnership Public Workshop City of New

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Resilient and Sustainable Communities Summit

Nearly 200 people attended the first annual Delaware Resilient and Sustainable Communities Summit at the Del Tech Conference Center on November 27, 2017. The event drew a diverse audience from throughout Delaware, including representatives from 22 towns, 16 Nonprofit and Community Groups, 15 Federal and State Agencies, 14 professional services companies, six county and regional

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Resilient and Sustainable Communities League

The Delaware Resilient and Sustainable Communities League is a group of 14 member organizations that coordinate together to help assist Delaware’s communities as they adapt to the impacts of climate change and work towards a more sustainable future. The Delaware Resilient and Sustainable Communities League now has its very own website!

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Past Projects and Fellows

The DNREC Coastal Management Program and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve are dynamic, evolving programs whose focus remains on the balance between the use and protection of Delaware’s coastal resources. This is an archive of information about some past projects.

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The Delaware Coastal Management Program

From the Delaware Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware’s coastal resources contribute to its economy, environment, and quality of life. DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Management Program (DCMP) is a networked program that works to preserve, protect, develop, enhance, and resolve conflicts related to the state’s coastal resources. The Coastal

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Green Eggs and Sand

Green Eggs and Sand is an innovative workshop experience and set of curriculum modules designed to explore the Atlantic Coast horseshoe crab (HSC)/shorebird phenomenon and management controversy. Laurel Sullivan Education Coordinator, DNERR 302-735-3412 Karen Byrne New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection

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Coastal Zone Conversion Permits

The 2017 Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act amended the Coastal Zone Act to allow the reuse of 14 grandfathered sites of heavy industry use within Delaware’s Coastal Zone. The Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act required DNREC to develop regulations (7 DE Admin. Code 101) for the issuance of conversion permits and to set fees

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St. Jones Reserve

The St. Jones Reserve component of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is located on the north shore of the St. Jones River, off Kitts Hummock Road, south of Dover in Kent County and includes a portion of Delaware Bay. The St. Jones Reserve is on the Delaware Bayshore Byway and includes a Visitor

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Blackbird Creek Reserve

The Blackbird Creek Reserve component of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is located upstream from Delaware Route 9 at Taylors Bridge in Townsend, New Castle County. The Blackbird Creek Reserve is on the Delaware Bayshore Byway and includes trails, pavilion and canoe/kayak launch.

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Blackbird Creek Fall Festival

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) offers a day of free family fun at the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival every October. [modal text=”Where Is It?” title=”Find

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Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey

Citizen scientists and state researchers have surveyed the horseshoe crabs spawning along Delaware Bay beaches since 1990. The data they have collected has been key for scientists in monitoring changes in numbers of spawning crabs in the Bay.

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Delaware Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee

The Delaware Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee was created in 2010 to investigate the state’s vulnerability to sea level rise and to provide recommendations about how to best prepare for higher sea levels. Adapting to Sea Level Rise Delaware Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee

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