What did you do last weekend?  Sit in front of the television or putter around the house?  On Saturday, April 12th, over a hundred volunteers came out and participated in two reforestation and habitat protection projects, one at the Odessa Chase community in the Appoquinimink Watershed and one at the Fox Hunter development in the Middletown area.  Both projects were chosen to receive Local Government Conservation and Design grants from the Delaware Coastal Programs office.  This year, the program gave out $86,935 to eleven projects around the state, with grants by the Delaware Coastal Programs, using funds from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.  Additional funds were provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A request for grant proposals was distributed last Fall, with the deadline for submission in mid-December.  A grant committee met in the beginning of this year to rank the proposals and distribute the funds to the most promising projects.  The committee was made up of key representatives knowledgeable in conservation design practices and local community needs.   After approval, grant selection team members assisted in working out the details for each project.  Proposals had to meet Conservation Design program requirements.  Delaware Coastal Programs defines Conservation Design as, “…a process by which land is developed in an ecologically sensitive way.  It considers the specific landscape and features of the parcel and works within its environmental constraints.”

Participating communities were required to provide a 50% match to qualify for their grants.  The match could be provided as in-kind services, such as community involvement in habitat restoration.  Rico Santiago, an environmental scientist with Delaware Coastal Programs, describes the Local Government Conservation and Design grant program as “...focused on involving the community”.  Local youth groups and other organizations are always interested in participating, and additional recruitment of citizens is emphasized.

Rico Santiago and Tim Lucas from Delaware Coastal Programs demonstrate the correct procedure for planting trees to volunteers.

The two projects are very similar.  Both are reforestation efforts in open space , with enhanced wildlife use through the installation of bird nesting boxes.  New Castle County requires developments larger than five houses to have a certain percentage of open space, and this program helps communities move away from lawn-like, mowed areas to functioning ecosystem elements.  Enhanced property values are an attractive side effect.  “Rather than just mowing an area, we're encouraging them to plant native grasses and trees that support habitat. These are as low maintenance as possible”, Santiago says.  He goes on to say that although many people think "weeds" when hearing the words “native grasses”, they are actually species that are better suited for our climate and soil types.  Santiago also explains that economics is a large part of implementation, “These communities will save money by not having to mow the area every week or few days.”  Native trees and grasses are purchased from a variety of nursery and seed distributors.

Odessa Chase has approximately 25 acres of open space.  Some of this land is currently used for recreation, and there are two stormwater management ponds.  The long term goal of the project is a nature trail connect the areas, which will include a young meadow with scattered trees, an older meadow with some trees, existing natural habitat and a woodland area.   Volunteers planted 650 trees in 2002 plus an additional 800 trees in 2003 on just 3.5 acres.  Some of the trees were planted in lowland areas, which are susceptible to flooding, and others were planted in more upland areas.  “We're trying to mix and match to reproduce a healthy forest that can support animals and be enjoyed by the community”, Santiago said. 

Reforestation at Limeston Hilles, Hockessin was also part of the Local Government Conservation and Design Grants projects. This project took place April 13th and was attended by about 20 volunteers, including a local Boy Scout Troop.

The tiny saplings were planted, and then covered by staked photodegradable tubes, protecting them from the wind and hungry animals.  The tubes fully degrade in about five years, when the young trees are hopefully stable and healthy enough to thrive without added protection.  White netting is placed over the top of the tubes to prevent birds and animals picking at the leaves of the saplings or getting caught in the tubes.  Recent rain helped soften the soil and provide a moist new habitat for the young trees.

Over 120 Fox Hunter volunteers created a one mile natural trail through 900 new trees in their 3.5 acre reforestation project.  An additional 3.5 acres are scheduled for planting in 2004.  A local Boy Scout troop participated, as well as many concerned citizens.

For more information on the Delaware Coastal Programs or Local Government Conservation and Design grants, please contact Rico Santiago or Dave Carter at (302) 739-3451.