Outreach: Partner and Public Input (Element 7 & 8)

Outreach for the 2025 DEWAP took multiple forms, including formal and informal meetings, workshops, surveys, outreach materials (e.g., presentations, news releases), websites, and social media, as well as personal contacts and correspondence. A dedicated DEWAP website and an email address were established to disseminate information to a wider-audience and receive public input throughout the process. DEWAP materials, progress updates, and events were posted on the site throughout the DEWAP development to maximize public awareness and participation.

Stakeholder workshop agendas, reports, and other meeting materials, as well as DEWAP elements and chapters, were also posted to allow stakeholders time and opportunity to review relevant materials during each stage of DEWAP development (e.g., identifying species of greatest conservation need [SGCN], key habitats, threats, and conservation actions). A DEWAP survey was posted on this website that solicited public input and was referenced with each outreach correspondence. Additionally, news releases and media interviews were timed to allow for stakeholder events or meetings taking place throughout the state, and representatives met with key partners to discuss the 2025 DEWAP. These activities demonstrate considerable efforts to solicit public input during key phases of the development.

DEWAP Organizational Infrastructure for Outreach and Coordination

In order to coordinate with its partners, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) first established an internal DEWAP administrative framework. The DNREC DFW launched the DEWAP revision in early 2023 when the Oversight Team was established. The DEWAP Revision Development Team took the lead in the development of the 2025 DEWAP, including outreach, document drafting, coordination, website design, and database design. Specific guidance provided by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and later the Northeast Lexicon and Synthesis (Crisfield and NEFWDTC 2022, Terwilliger and NEFWDTC 2023), informed the approach throughout the planning process. With this guidance in mind, and with the input of a broadening circle of stakeholders and the conservation community, Delaware developed its 2025 DEWAP partnership approach, providing for general and technical input throughout the process.

Teams, Members, and Affiliations

DEWAP Oversight Team- DNREC Division Staff

First Name	Last Name	Position	DNREC DFW Section
John	Clark	Environmental Program Administrator	Fisheries
Thomas	Moran	Environmental Program Administrator	Mosquito Control
Joseph	Rogerson	Environmental Program Administrator	Wildlife
Craig	Rhoads	Environmental Program Administrator	Outreach, Licensing and Grants Management
Drew	Aydelotte	Major	Natural Resource Police
Pat	Emory	Director	DNREC DFW

Revision Development Team

The Revision Development Team consisted of the contractors/consultants and key DNREC staff who worked together on a daily basis to develop the document and process.

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Samantha	Robinson	DNREC DFW
Anthony	Gonzon	DNREC DFW
Katie	Kadlubar	DNREC DFW
Danielle	Minter	DNREC DFW
Matthew	Young	DNREC DFW
Mark	Kimmet	DJ Case
Dan	Baldwin	DJ Case
Charles	Hartman	DJ Case

DEWAP Technical Review Team – Internal and External Taxa Experts

The DEWAP Technical Review Team included the key experts from DNREC and partners who had expertise in the topic area of SGCN or key habitats, as well as conservation issues across the state. They developed the SGCN and key habitat lists and criteria. They also reviewed the DEWAP documents, attended the series of workshops, and were called upon frequently during the process for expertise.

BIRDS

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Jordan	Brown	DNREC DFW
Erin	Rogers	DNREC DFW
Hailey	Glasko	DNREC DFW
Samantha	Robinson	DNREC DFW
Gary	Macy	DNREC DFW
Chris	Bennett	DNREC DPR
Brian	Marsh	USFWS
Anthony	Gonzon	DNREC DFW
Kitt	Heckscher	Delaware State University
Matthew	Halley	Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
Cole	Tiemann	DNREC DFW
Jenna	Brown	DNREC DFW
Ian	Stewart	Delaware Nature Society
Shawn	Sullivan	DNREC DFW

FISH

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Johnny	Moore	DNREC DFW
Ian	Park	DNREC DFW
Mike	Stangl	DNREC DFW
Edna	Stetzar	DNREC DFW
Jordan	Zimmerman	DNREC DFW
David	Stormer	DNREC DFW
Rich	Wong	DNREC DFW
Don	Wujtewicz	Delaware State University
David	Keller	Academy of Natural Sciences

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Nate	Nazdrowicz	DNREC DFW
Jim	White	Delaware Nature Society
Jason	Davis	DNREC DFW
Suzanne	Thurman	MERR Institute

INVERTEBRATES

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Hal	White	University of Delaware
Jim	White	Delaware Nature Society
Anthony	Gonzon	DNREC DFW
Kitt	Heckscher	Delaware State University
Michael	Moore	University of Delaware
Jason	Davis	DNREC DFW
Sam	Droege	USGS
Charles	Bartlett	University of Delaware
Ashley	Kennedy	DNREC DFW
Doug	Tallamy	UD

MAMMALS

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Holly	Niederriter	DNREC DFW
Jason	Davis	DNREC DFW
Joseph	Rogerson	DNREC DFW
Suzanne	Thurman	MERR Institute
Aaron	Hogue	Salisbury University
Danielle	Minter	DNREC DFW
Joe	Kessler	DNREC DFW

MOLLUSKS

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Katie	Kadlubar	DNREC DFW
Ashley	Barnett	DNREC WS
Clare	Gooch	DNREC WS
Michael	Bott	DNREC WS
Brittany	Sturgis	DNREC WS
Gabriella	Vailanti	DNREC WS
Alex	Kittle	Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
Zina	Hense	DNREC DFW
Rich	Wong	DNREC DFW
Danielle	Kreeger	PDE
Kurt	Cheng	PDE
Andrew	Bell	DWS
George	Doumit	DNREC WS

PLANTS

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Bill	McAvoy	DNREC DFW

HABITATS

First Name	Last Name	Organization
Bill	McAvoy	DNREC DFW
Alison	Rogerson	DNREC WS

Partner and Stakeholder Involvement and Coordination

These teams listed above guided the development of the DEWAP. The plan revision process allowed the partners, public, and stakeholders to have input throughout its development. Partners and stakeholders participated in the identification of SGCN and key habitats via email correspondence and listening sessions. The results were posted on the DNREC Website for public input with a news release announcing their availability. A survey collecting information concerning an individual’s familiarity with the DEWAP and suggestions for how to make the document more accessible and functional was made available to partners. A total of five people completed the survey, and their suggestions were incorporated into the strategy for making the document and database as relevant as possible to users and potential users.

Public Outreach and Input

Public input was obtained primarily by means of the plan webpage on DNREC’s home page and enhanced and updated throughout the 2025 revision process. The page (de.gov/dewap) provided an opportunity for the public to review components of the plan as they were completed, and to submit comments. DNREC and DNREC DFW also posted updates and information on its Facebook sites. Approximately 25 comments were received through the website via email, and suggestions were incorporated into the plan as appropriate.

Coordination with Federal, State, and Local Partners

Each major phase of the DEWAP development involved partners. From the first news release announcing the revision was underway, to emails and meetings to identify and prioritize SGCN, key habitats, threats, and actions (Elements 1-4). They were involved identifying and reviewing the conservation actions and were fully engaged in their refinement. Government agencies at the local, state, and federal level participated in the DEWAP revision and provided invaluable input and coordination opportunities for both plan development and implementation.

Collaboration with Tribal Partners

The DNREC DFW contacted multiple tribes to participate in the DEWAP process. Tribes contacted included the Delaware Nation and the Delaware Tribe of Indians, both federally recognized tribes associated with Delaware. Additionally, the DNREC DFW contacted the Lenape Tribe of Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Association as state-recognized tribes. All comments provided were reviewed and incorporated into the DEWAP.

Collaboration with Non-governmental Organization Partners

The DNREC DFW also collaborates with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to conserve and protect fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. These stakeholders are vital to successfully implementing the DEWAP, and their contributions to this DEWAP and natural resource conservation in Delaware are discussed in this chapter. Existing programs with some of these NGOs provide an important opportunity to implement the DEWAP with non-governmental partners.

Over sixty organizations were invited to participate in the workshops for the DEWAP development. Many others were notified by news release and DNREC website updates. They assisted and contributed throughout the DEWAP development and will be instrumental in the implementation of the DEWAP as well.

Plan Implementation

The 2025 DEWAP has been designed to facilitate implementation through its broad involvement of staff, key partners, and stakeholders. First, many DNREC staff were involved in plan development and will be conducting or involved in the priority conservation actions that they identified with their many external partners. Secondly, the many partners involved in DEWAP development identified priority actions along with DNREC staff, so they are knowledgeable and will be engaged in its implementation.

New for the 2025 revision is the DEWAP being presented as a web-enabled, interactive platform and a public facing database, populated with data from the first four elements on the DEWAP. Through web-enabling, these data will be able to be queried and provide information online for partners, stakeholders, and the general public.