Delaware is a state rich with wetlands that vary from forested vernal pools to highly productive salt marshes, to unique Bald Cypress Swamps. As stewards of these great resources, it is our responsibility to slow the loss of wetland acreage, improve the health of remaining wetlands and work together to better understand and share with others the value of wetlands.

For more information, please contact Alison Rogerson, at Alison.Rogerson@delaware.gov or 302-739-9939.

The Current Wetland Program Plan

Delaware creates five-year wetland program plans to serve as guides to identifying wetland research, education, management and conservation needs.

The 2026-2030 Wetland Program Plan has a vision to achieve an increase in wetland acreage and improve wetland conditions to support the wealth of services and functions wetlands provide.

The plan also identifies and prioritizes areas where information or action is needed to advance wetland management statewide.

This effort is intended to outline gaps and needs to develop and refine a wetland program in Delaware. The plan organization aligns with the Core Element Framework. for wetland planning from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be referenced over the five-year span to direct projects and prioritization.

Delaware’s wetland resources are still vulnerable to the same threats they have faced for the past 45 years, such as conversion to agriculture or development, prioritization differences among decision makers and a lack of awareness or appreciation of wetland value. Other challenges are becoming more prominent, such as conversion to open water and saltwater intrusion due to increasingly elevated coastal waters.

Any program working in or around wetlands is encouraged to reference the action items listed in the plan to generate and justify project ideas.

Objectives and Goals

The Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program (WMAP) uses goals and action items to prioritize and select future projects to strengthen Delaware’s capacity to conserve and improve wetlands.

Objectives

Objective 1: Monitoring and Assessment

Gather data on the status and trends of wetlands (quantity, quality, functions and services) to track wetland condition and function over time.

Objective 2: Regulatory Activities

Avoid, minimize and replace impacts to wetland extent and function through effective regulation, efficient permitting and appropriate mitigation.

Objective 3: Voluntary Restoration and Protection

Protect and restore wetlands through voluntary and long-term actions that uphold and elevate wetland extent and value.

Objective 4: Education and Outreach

Inform the citizens and visitors of Delaware about the function, services and critical importance of wetlands. Collaborate with a variety of partners to improve efficiency and effectiveness of educational materials, platforms for outreach, and public events.

Goals

Under each objective there are focused goals. The 2026-2030 plan outlines 41 action items organized under seven goals:

Goal A: Geospatial Analysis

Use geospatial analysis tools to gather information and develop resources about the extent of wetlands in Delaware.

Goal B: Monitoring

Increase monitoring efficiency and effort to provide insight into current wetland condition and function and changes occurring over time.

Goal C: Regulatory

Use wetland data and findings to support establishing and developing an effective state wetland protection program.

Goal D: Restoration

Advance wetland restoration practices through research and demonstration to stem loss and create gain in acreage and function.

Goal E: Protection

Protect and improve wetlands through voluntarily stewardship and actions that increase function and value.

Goal F: Education

Enhance education efforts to broaden wetland understanding and strengthen environmental stewardship among the public and a variety of wetland stakeholders.

Goal G: Outreach

Improve reach to varying audiences, increase project sharing with practitioners and facilitate collaboration with partners.

Previous Plans and Strategies

The 2021-2025 Delaware Wetland Program Plan had the same seven goals as the 2015 plan and addressed better protection and restoration of wetland resources in Delaware. It also focused on the impacts from climate change, project implementation and developing stronger wetland education and outreach.

The 2015 Delaware Wetland Management Plan covered 2016-2020 and included 45 action items under the seven goals as the 2021-2025 plan. By the close of 2020, 30 of those action items were either complete or in progress.

The 2011 Delaware Wetland Monitoring Strategy was a part of the State’s overall Water Monitoring Strategy to help direct the State’s efforts to assess the conditions of all waters

The 2008 Delaware Wetlands Conservation Strategy covered 2006-2008 and outlined six goals similar to succeeding plans. This initial conservation strategy grew out of the recognition of needs to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of Delaware’s wetlands.

Related Topics:  management, plan, stewards, strategy, watershed, wetlands