Delaware's Green Infrastructure

In addition to nutrient issues resulting from nonpoint sources, Delaware is faced with decreasing natural green spaces due to extensive development in recent years.  On October 29th, Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed Executive Order 61, introducing Green Infrastructure to the state and strengthening the Livable Delaware initiative by directing all state agencies to preserve the state’s green infrastructure, defined as Delaware’s natural life support system of parks and preserves, woodlands and wildlife areas, wetlands and waterways, productive agricultural and forest land, greenways, cultural, historic, and recreational sites and natural areas.

The Governor directed state agencies to lead the way and set an example of stewardship on state lands and in state operations.   The state is committed to provide tools and assistance to local governments, non-government conservation organizations and private landowners to encourage residents to make conservation a key component in land decisions.  Voluntary stewardship by property owners is essential to green infrastructure conservation, since approximately 80% of the state’s land base is in private hands.

The order supports the Governor’s long standing belief that state money should not be spent on projects that result in serious adverse environmental impacts and that criteria for state funding should include an ecological impact assessment using the best available scientific tools.   This puts Delaware at the forefront of incorporating core environmental values into daily government operations, according to a former administrator with the EPA.  The plan also has the support of several environmental nonprofit organizations.

Executive Order 61 requires state spending, development and land transfers to include a review ensuring preservation of Delaware’s green infrastructure.  The goal is to preserve the state’s biodiversity and functional ecosystems, protect native plant and animal species, improve air and water quality, prevent flooding, lessen the disruption to natural landscapes, provide opportunities for profitable farming and forestry enterprises, limit invasive species, and foster eco-tourism.

The order places the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) in a leadership position, specifying that a conservation coordinator be appointed by DNREC to work closely with the Departments of Agriculture and Transportation, together with other state and non-government conservation agencies and lead efforts to:

• Compile an inventory of all state-owned green infrastructure, including parks and preserves, woodlands and wildlife areas, wetlands and waterways, productive agricultural and forest land, greenways, cultural, historic and recreational sites and other natural areas, all with conservation value
  
• Use the green infrastructure maps incorporated into the Strategies for State Policies and Spending as the guide for making determinations of conservation impacts of projects
  
• Develop other science-based assessment tools and management strategies for green infrastructure conservation for use by all landholders

DNREC Secretary John A. Hughes appointed William R. Whitman as Delaware’s Green Infrastructure Conservation Coordinator.   Whitman is a seasoned environmental scientist with a long history of service in Delaware, New England and Canada.  He will be charged with coordinating and tracking tasks outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order.

Working with other state agencies — especially the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation — Whitman will address conservation management needs and provide operational support and expertise.  His job will involve regular consultation with representatives of the environmental, agricultural, academic and business communities as well as civic groups, state and local governments.  His duties include preparing an annual report that describes the progress and achievements toward implementing Governor Minner’s green infrastructure mandates and attaining the conservation acreage targets adopted by the Advisory Council on Planning Coordination.