Appoquinimink
Team Starts New Water Quality Protection Activities
The
Appoquinimink Tributary Action Team is beginning an important
new phase. With the hiring
of Cortney Worrall as the Team’s
watershed coordinator, we are initiating activities to
protect water quality in the Appoquinimink watershed.
Earlier
this year the Team submitted its Recommended Pollution Control
Strategy
to DNREC. Some of these have already
been implemented, for instance, creating a septic system licensing
program. Although the actual program has not yet started,
the law for it’s
implementation has been passed. We've hired a watershed
coordinator, are filming public service announcements, and
publicizing better
lawn care practices for homeowners. DNREC's comments
and feedback on our recommended strategies are forming the
basis for ongoing improvements.
The Green Team
The
Team’s July meeting produced the idea of developing
a Green Team, a group of people of all ages to do environmental
projects around the area. The Green Team will be a great
way to do hands on work to help improve the watershed and give
us
a chance to get outside and contribute to preserving our natural
areas. The Green Team will plant trees, clean up trails,
plant vegetative buffers, stencil storm drains, and maintain
trails. We're airing public service announcements, starting
a recognition program for the watershed's farmers, and promoting
open space incentives.
Our
first projects will start at the Middletown Nature Area (details
to follow soon!). The Appoquinimink Tributary ActionTeam
promoted the Green Team at the Middletown Peach Festival and
received a
lot of interest. We are planning to have refreshments,
prizes for the little ones, and loads of appreciation for everyone
who
comes out. If you know anyone young or old who would be
interested in participating, please contact Cortney Worrall (378-8395
or
cworrall@earthlink.net).
Please
let us know if you have any ideas about projects we could work
on.
Peach Festival
The
Peach Festival was a success for us! Despite the thunderstorm
we were able to pass out most of our materials on the Team’s
activities, watershed protection, and the new lawn care brochure
from the Delaware
Nutrient Management Commission. The Peach
Festival is just one venue we've used for increasing
the Team's visibility.
Next Meeting
At
the next Appoquinimink Tributary Team meeting we will discuss
future Team directions as well as DNREC’s response
to the Recommended Pollution Control Strategy. We will
be making plans for revising the soils test results form,
starting a
farmer and land management recognition program for those
who do the most to protect water quality in our area, and
upcoming
Green Team events. Please contact Cortney Worrall for meeting
time and location (378-8395 or cworrall@earthlink.net).
