By Josh Thompson, Little Assawoman Bay Watershed Coordinator

The Little Assawoman Bay (LAB) system has been shrouded in mystery over the years and an enigma of sorts to those concerned with Delaware’s Inland Bays, taking a back seat to the efforts and research in the Rehoboth and Indian River Bays.  Recently, however, the blanket of ambiguity has begun to lift from this unique system, as the efforts of several organizations have been coordinated and focused on the Little Assawoman Watershed.  With no point source pollution and almost half of the land use devoted to production agriculture, it was decidedly the most appropriate and opportune site to attempt to develop a “model watershed.”  The efforts and support of the poultry integrators, Delaware Nutrient Management Commission, DNREC, Sussex Conservation District, and the Center for the Inland Bays is paying off through the Poultry Integrators Nutrient Effort, PINE initiative.

As the shores of Sussex County swelled with tourists in the late summer of 2003, a survey was quietly being conducted in the agricultural region just west of the crawling traffic jams and bustling crowds of Bethany and Fenwick Island.  With the help of the flock supervisors that work hand in hand with the area’s poultry growers, a immense amount of data was collected regarding animal production, agronomic crop production, best management practices, and nutrient management practices in the LAB watershed.  There was tremendous cooperation among the poultry growers in the watershed, and they willingly contributed to the growing database.  Twenty-eight growers were surveyed, information compiled and analyzed in an attempt to paint a realistic picture of both the present agricultural community and the future of agriculture in the watershed.

Several trends became evident after careful analysis of the data.   Foremost is the willingness of the watershed’s farmers to participate in and even lead the efforts to protect the area’s natural resources through incorporation of recommended practices.  Most of the poultry growers in the LAB share a sincere desire to utilize the newest advances in bird disposal, manure storage and disposal, and nutrient management.  The limiting factor seems to be a certain level of disconnect between those developing recommended procedures and the growers.  Efforts need to be increased to put proven research in the hands of those that can ultimately apply it, the poultry producers.

Despite the cooperation of the growers in the realm of nutrient management, the implementation of some land BMPs has been slower to gain support in the watershed.  There are few buffers, cover crops, or wetland projects currently in the region, despite some prime sites that may have low crop yields due to poor drainage and soils.  Landowners are often reluctant to enroll lands into a contractually bound program while surrounding development is taking place at a frenzied level and profitable production agriculture is becoming more difficult to sustain.

As a picture of the agricultural component of the watershed was being carefully pieced together, effort was being put forth to determine the present state and health of the LAB itself.   As these waters have habitually been ignored by researchers and scientists, little data exists to aid in the formulation of a baseline state of water quality and ecosystem health.  However, a collection of historical water quality measurements is available, which was analyzed in conjunction with rainfall data to show seasonal trends in water quality in the bay.  Through the PINE project, research efforts have been amplified to gain a better understanding of this system.  DNREC’s Robin Tyler spent the summer months of 2003 swatting greenheads and enjoying the coastal breezes as he collected water quality data and sampled the juvenile fish populations in the LAB.  Ben Anderson, also of DNREC, conducted a study to determine the presence, or lack of, submerged aquatic vegetation.  Information gleaned from these projects will help to assemble an accurate picture of the LAB community.

The monumental cooperation that has been displayed throughout this project by all players has begun to pay dividends as the “forgotten bay” has not only been remembered, but also embraced as an opportunity to step into the future of watershed management.  Alas, we are far from declaring victory.   The interest and cooperation of the non-agricultural residents and urban community has yet to be tested.  Failing waste systems riddle the landscape surrounding the bay.  Admittedly, great strides are still necessary to achieve the ultimate goals of this program, but with the dedication of the agricultural community, integrators, researchers, and citizens, the intangible “model watershed” concept is well on it’s way to becoming a reality.