The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program staffed an exhibit at the annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, which fosters stewardship of the Delaware Bayshore by celebrating the richness of estuaries and Delaware’s cultural traditions at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. The NPS exhibit consisted of information on actions that improve local water quality and included a hands-on activity giving participants an opportunity to learn about the benefits of rain gardens and plant a mini version to take home.

The Conservation Programs Section (CPS) staffed an exhibit at the annual Apple Scrapple event in Bridgeville. 2025 marked the thirty-third year holding the festival which promotes the town and the agriculture industry that is so prevalent in western Sussex County. The CPS exhibit consisted of information on actions that improve the health of local waterways.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the DNREC Conservation Programs Section Fall Beach Cleanup at Indian River Inlet in Bethany. DNREC’s Adopt-A-Beach program is a partnership between the Department and Delaware volunteers, working in tandem to protect and enhance Delaware’s beaches.

The Conservation Programs Section (CPS) staffed an exhibit at the University of Delaware Coast Day event in Lewes. Coast Day highlights the many ways we’re working together to understand our rich environmental resources and better serve local communities through marine, coastal, and environmental education and outreach. The CPS exhibit consisted of information on actions that improve the health of Delaware’s waterways along with a hands-on activity, giving attendees an opportunity to learn about stormwater runoff by creating mini rain gardens to take home and plant in the spring

The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program staffed an exhibit at a rain barrel workshop hosted by the DNREC Delaware Community Conservation Assistance Program and Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, located at the Bridgeville Public Library. Attendees learned about the benefits of rain barrels and their use in slowing down stormwater runoff while improving local water quality. Participants received a free rain barrel to install at home and the NPS exhibit offered additional resources on actions that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering waterways.

On Sept. 27, The Conservation Programs Section (CPS) staffed an exhibit at the Downtown Seaford Fall Festival. The event, organized by the Downtown Seaford Association, featured live music, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. The CPS exhibit consisted of information on actions that reduce nonpoint source pollution, improving the health of local watersheds.

The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program staffed an exhibit and participated in a cleanup at Soroptimist Park in Seaford, hosted by the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance in coordination with DNREC’s annual Coastal Cleanup event. Volunteers removed trash from the park, banks of Williams Pond, and surrounding area. The NPS exhibit provided participants with information on actions that will help improve local water quality.

The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program provided an exhibit for the Rehoboth Art League Native Plant Sale which offered opportunities to purchase native plants grown by local nurseries. Attendees spent the day learning about the benefits of planting native species and the beauty of garden design. In addition to the plant sale, the day featured a series of workshops and tours offering more information on gardening and native species.

The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship participated in the annual Delaware State Fair in Harrington. The division’s exhibit consisted of information on conservation programs, nonpoint source pollution, freshwater mussels, tax ditches, sediment and stormwater training, and more. Visitors to the exhibit saw a demonstration on freshwater mussel’s filtering capabilities and were able to sign up to receive information and assistance related to practices that improve water quality.

The Nonpoint Source Program and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension hosted a Home Stormwater Workshop at the UD Paradee Center in Dover. The workshop included presentations on techniques used for managing excess stormwater, as well as grants and available funding through DNREC’s Conservation Programs Section. Twenty 55-gallon rain barrels were distributed during the event.

The Conservation Programs Section participated in the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s World Environment Day event in New Castle. The exhibit consisted of information on conservation programs, nonpoint source pollution and actions that can be taken to help reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering waterways.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in a Native Plant Sale and Pollinator Workshop hosted by the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance at the Seaford Public Library. The exhibit consisted of information on conservation programs and home-based practices that improve water quality.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the Water Family Fest in Ocean View, hosted by DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. The exhibit focused on techniques used to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways and included a hands-on “mini rain garden” planting activity.

The Conservation Programs Section participated in the Dover Stormwater Day event at Silver Lake Park in Dover. The section provided an exhibit highlighting practices that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways through stormwater runoff.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the Trap Pond Nature Festival in Laurel. The program provided an exhibit focused on practices that can be used to help reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways. All proceeds from the event are used for improvements to Trap Pond State Park.

The Conservation Programs Section participated in the Make a Splash event in Kitts Hummock at the St. Jones Reserve. The annual event invites elementary school students to learn about Delaware’s water resources and estuaries. The section provided an exhibit presenting information on nonpoint source pollution and led a hands-on activity which introduced students to actions that can be taken at home to help improve the health of waterways.

The Nonpoint Source Program volunteered at the Christina River Watershed Cleanup in New Castle County. The Christina River Watershed Cleanup’s mission is to remove man-made debris from within the watershed, while raising public awareness for pollution prevention. Since the Cleanup began in 1992, more than 360 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and other trash have been cleared from within the watershed.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the Delaware Envirothon at the Blackbird Creek Reserve. The Delaware Envirothon is a problem-solving natural resource education program for high school students. The event provides students with an integrated approach to exploring six natural resource categories and it tests their creativity, analytical thinking and team building skills in a competitive format. The Envirothon is sponsored, in part, by DNREC.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the Concord Pond Cleanup in Seaford, where volunteers removed over half a ton of trash around the pond and Deep Creek. The annual event, in celebration of Earth Month, is hosted by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in DNREC’s annual Beach Grass Planting at North Indian River Inlet. Every spring since 1990, except when pandemic conditions prevented it, dedicated volunteers have stabilized Delaware’s sand dunes by planting more than 5 million stems of Cape American beach grass along ocean and bay beaches.

The Nonpoint Source Program participated in the Youth Environmental Summit (known as YES!) at the Chase Center in Wilmington. YES! is a statewide summit for all Delaware high school students with an interest in protecting the earth. Program staff attended with an exhibit focused on reducing nutrient and sediment pollution by adopting home-based practices, such as planting native trees, creating pollinator habitat, installing rain barrels and more.

The Conservation Programs Section participated in the Delaware Agriculture Week event, hosted by the University of Delaware in Harrington. During the event, industry experts led sessions exploring the latest and most valuable innovations in agronomy, fruits and vegetables, woodland management, soil health, animal science, and more. With exhibitors and vendors in attendance, the event provides opportunities to network with local and national organizations, agricultural businesses, and allied partners. Section staff attended with an exhibit providing information on practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution entering waterways.