Smartyards Are Back!
After the success of last fall’s “Smartyards” Program, the Appoquinimink River Association is proud to announce that we provided the opportunity to 20 more watershed families this spring. This program provides habitats for wildlife using native plant species, reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizer and pesticide applications, and prevents stormwater runoff more than traditional turf grass landscapes.
 Participants receive many materials to create wildlife habitat in their back yards. |
With many willing participants not able to be included in the last program, the Association decided to continue to work on finding ways to provide watershed residents with this program. Thanks to a grant from DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs, we were able to provide the opportunity to those registrants who were not selected from the last opportunity. This time the Association focused on residents living in or near critical natural habitat, groundwater recharge areas and forests — which was easy to do since the Appoquinimink is filled with natural wonders!
Participants met at Saint Andrew's School where they learned the benefits of increasing wildlife habitat in their back yards. Everyone picked up their supplies on May 25th, including $350 worth of native plants, a rain barrel, birdbath, bird feeder, and birdhouse. To see how their gardens grow and change, check back for updates in future editions of the Tributary Times!
  |
The
rain didn't stop these residents from picking
up their materials, any way they could! |
First Ever Townsend Most Welcoming Yard Contest a Success!
Willey Farms, the Appoquinimink River Association and the Town of Townsend sponsored the first ever Most Welcoming Yard Contest. Twenty two homes within Townsend's boundaries were nominated, based on the criteria of organization, yard maintenance, water conservation, wildlife habitat and overall beauty. The decisions were very difficult for our judges, but someone had to win!
 Grand Prize winners Mark and Louise Roeper incorporated many natural practices into their yard, including maintaining wetlands, mulching, and composing their landscaping. — Photo by Jessica Thompson, Middletown Transcript |
The Grand Prize winners were Mark and Louise Roeper of Townsend Station, who won a $350 Willey Farms gift certificate and $50 cash. Second Place went to the Potts family of Main Street, who received a $125 Willey Farms gift certificate. The Ruhman family, also of Main Street, came in third, winning a $75 gift certificate from Willey Farms
Thank you to all who participated, and keep up the good work!
Entering the Appoquinimink Watershed
Everyone
lives in a watershed! That is the message that
the Appoquinimink River Association is sending with
its new “Entering Appoquinimink Watershed” signs.
In partnership with DelDOT,
the Appoquinimink River Association has worked to post
seven of these signs throughout the watershed. It's
important for us to increase the visibility of the river
and educate the residents on the importance of its protection.
Many don't even know that the river
is in their neighborhood or near their school! That's
why we hope the signs trigger educational opportunities
so residents learn that what they do on the land affects
the water resources nearby!
The signs are located at the following locations:
- Route 13 Northbound just south of the intersection with Blackbird Landing Road
- Route 13 Southbound just south of the intersection with Marl Pit Rd.
- Route 9 Northbound south of Fieldsboro Rd.
- Route 9 Southbound north of Vance Neck Road near Augustine Wildlife Area
- Route 71 Northbound at north of New Discovery Rd.
- Route 71 Southbound north of Old School House Rd.
- Route 301 Northbound east of Warwick Road
Make sure to look for the signs and tell your neighbors!
Center for Watershed Protection Study
The Center for Watershed Protection recently finished an assessment of the Appoquinimink Watershed which details problems that need to be addressed throughout the area. The report provides guidance on implementing specific elements of the Appoquinimink Pollution Control Strategy. It outlines a series of recommendations for watershed restoration and protection in the urban and urbanizing portions of the Appoquinimink, describes management strategies for each of the seven subwatersheds, and identifies priority projects for implementation. The assessment will be finalized soon and will be posted on our website in the near future!
The Problem with Stormwater
Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that does not quickly soak into the ground. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through sloped lawns and fields. As it moves, this runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, leaves, litter and other potential pollutants. You don’t need a heavy rainstorm to send pollutants rushing toward streams, wetlands, lakes and oceans. A few minutes with a single garden hose is enough to do the trick.
Even houses that are not beside a creek or lake can contribute to problems. Storm drains and sewers are designed to move runoff from your neighborhood to the nearest body of water. Contrary to popular belief, storm sewers do not carry stormwater to wastewater treatment plants.
Sediment clouds water and smothers habitat for fish and plants. Nutrients like phosphates and nitrates can promote excessive algae growth. Toxic substances such as antifreeze and oil from leaking cars, carelessly applied pesticides, and zinc from galvanized metal gutters and downspouts may threaten the health of fish and other aquatic life. Bacteria, viruses and parasites from animal waste may make nearby lakes, rivers and beaches unsuitable for wading, swimming, or shellfish harvesting after storms.
As many have discovered, stormwater can also be a problem closer to home. Although runoff is natural, changing the landscape increases the amount of runoff by limiting infiltration. For highly developed, gently sloping, low-lying areas, runoff causes chronic and sometimes severe flooding problems. Stormwater can also flow down poorly sealed well shafts contaminating drinking water. In areas with very porous soils or geology, pollutants in runoff may reach groundwater.
Stormwater pollution cannot be treated in the same way as water pollution from discharge pipes. Runoff pollution originates from multiple sources. Every street, parking lot, sidewalk, driveway, yard, and garden can potentially contribute to the problem. The issue can only be solved with everyone’s help.
What can you do to help?
Have routine maintenance of your car to prevent and identify potential leaks because oil stains on your driveway and spills of antifreeze, brake fluid or other automotive fluids are easily carried away by a rainstorm.
Never dump used oil, antifreeze or gasoline down a storm drain, in a ditch or on the ground.
Wash your car on the lawn or, better yet, take it to a commercial car wash or spray booth that sends its dirty water to a wastewater treatment plant. Washing your car in the driveway creates runoff without the help of a rainstorm, and the dirty, soapy runoff drains directly into storm sewers, picking up oil and other pollutants as it goes.
Clean up after your pet. Take a plastic bag or pooper scooper along on your next walk! Then flush the waste down the toilet – the water from your toilet goes to either a sewage treatment plant or a septic system that removes pollutants before the water reaches a lake or river. You can also put the waste in the trash but check local ordinances first. Putting pet waste in waste containers is against the law in some communities. Even if it’s legal and easy, it’s not the best solution. Waste taken to a landfill or incinerator can still cause pollution problems, so flush down the toilet when possible! You can also encourage your neighborhood to provide pet waste stations for collection and disposal of waste. Check to see if the parks in your neighborhood have them.
Aim downspouts onto grassy areas where water can soak into the ground. For roofs without gutters, plant grass, spread mulch, or use gravel under the drip line to prevent soil erosion and increase the ground’s capacity to absorb water. Consider using rain barrels to catch rainwater for watering lawns and gardens.
Many of today’s water-quality problems are caused by human activities on the land. By becoming aware of how our actions affect the environment, we can reduce pollution! For more information on ways that you can get involved with the Appoquinimink River Association’s mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the rivers and related natural resources of the Appoquinimink region, contact Sara Wozniak, watershed coordinator or phone her at (302) 382-0335.
Excerpts from this article were taken from Delaware Coast-A-Syst: An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for Protecting Coastal Water Quality written by DNREC – Delaware Coastal Programs.
For
more information call the Delaware Coastal Programs
at (302) 739-3451.
