Job Opening at PDE

Are you PDE’s new Engagement Assistant Coordinator?

Learn more here by clicking here: https://delawareestuary.org/home/careers-2/

2023 State of the Estuary Report

Our 2023 State of the Estuary Report is hot off the press!  The Delaware Estuary and Watershed has maintained a “fair” rating since 2012. Find out what determined this rating by visiting www.delawareestuary.org/soe23.

Enter our Art Contest!

Artwork by Christina Holubinka

It’s time to enter the 2024 Trash Into Treasure Art Contest!

Artists, if you’re 18 years or older and live in the state of Delaware, you could be eligible to enter our art contest aimed at raising awareness about the importance of clean waterways.  There are prizes for winning entries!

Click HERE for more information and an entry form.

We’re Looking for Volunteers!

Are you handy with carpentry? Do you enjoy volunteer work?

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has a need for a carpenter who would like to volunteer for a project.

For more information, visit our Volunteer page. 

Read the Latest Estuary News

     

In this issue…

Our 2023 State of the Estuary Report takes center stage in the fall/winter issue of Estuary News. The overall assessment of the Delaware Estuary and Watershed is “fair,” but what does that mean, and how is that decided?

Click here for the latest and other issues of Estuary News

Take Our Quiz for National Estuaries Week (September 16 – 23, 2023)

2022 Annual Report

Read about what we did in 2022 for Clean Waters, Healthy Habitats, and Strong Communities, with help from supporters like you. Click HERE to learn more.

Urban Waters Mini-Grants

PDE is offering up to $10,000 in financial assistance for local partners working on greening and environmental projects in urban environmental justice communities.

The application deadline is July 7. Click on the button below to view the guidelines and access the application for this opportunity.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. receivedEPA logo financial support from the EPA under an Assistance Agreement. PDE’s activities are not being conducted by the EPA.

NFWF logo

 

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

It’s time for the 2023 Spokesdog Competition!

Dog with blue capeHello, Philadelphia dog owners!
Help us put dog poop in its proper place and promote clean waterways in the city!
Show us how you Scoop the Poop and your dog could have a chance to be the next spokesdog for the Philadelphia Water Department. Snap a photo or share a video of your dog and how you properly dispose of your pet’s waste (Be creative, but bagged poop only, please!). To enter, post your photos or video to social media, tag Delaware Estuary and Philadelphia Water Department, and use the hashtag #SpokesdogPHL2023.
Must be a Philadelphia resident to enter. Contest closes May 31. Go to https://delawareestuary.org/manage-dog-waste/ for full contest rules and eligibility.

Check Out Our New Native Plant Guide!

Do you find yourself in your garden trying to tell the difference between young plants and the weeds? Do you wonder if a plant is native or not to the mid-Atlantic? Quit scratching your head because Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s new guide, Native Seedlings of the Delaware Estuary, helps take the guesswork out of regional native plants. Full of pictures, this new guide contains information on more than 50 common native plants used in backyard pollinator gardens and rain gardens. Information includes:

• Common and scientific names, plant family
• Important ID characteristics to distinguish the plant
from other plants/weeds
• Water & sun requirements
• Ecological benefits
• Seasonal points interest (for adult plant; flowering,
fall color, etc.)
• Photo of the plant in bloom

 

Click here for the full guide.

 

Want more information on plants? Go to our Perennial Pages site.

PDE’s New Board Chairperson

Nicole Brown Elected Board Chair of Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Organization also welcomes five new board members

 

Nicole BrownPartnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) welcomes a new head of its board of directors and five new board members.

 As of Jan. 1, Nicole Brown, Client Development Manager for Suburban Consulting Engineers is PDE’s new board chairperson. In this role, Brown will facilitate board and executive committee meetings as well as provide guidance and leadership to PDE’s management to continue the success of the organization. 

In addition to Brown’s election as board chair, PDE also welcomes five new board members: Kate Campbell of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP, Kelly Anderson of the Philadelphia Water Department, Matin Katirai of West Chester University, Shawn Rodier of Jacobs, and Jeannie Morris of Vicinity Energy.

 Brown has more than 25 years of experience with all phases of water and wastewater projects, having worked with clients to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of their systems. As an engineer, she utilizes her problem-solving skills along with effective communication to speak to the community on behalf of her clients. She is passionate about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water industry and focuses on encouraging the next generation of water professionals. A native of Philadelphia, Brown is proud to implement her experience to positively impact the region’s water. At Suburban Consulting, Brown manages regional water and wastewater clients.

 “Throughout my life, I have had an appreciation of water and problem solving, which is why I became a civil engineer,” Brown said. “Being involved in the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has given me opportunities to engage with water in creative and interesting ways that remind me of why I fell in love with water. PDE plays a vital role in sustaining this precious resource in our region and sharing the love of water with all that experience it.”

 Brown is a proud wife, and mother of four children (and three fur babies). She loves to travel, experience new things and is a self-proclaimed foodie. She is a faithful member of her childhood church in West Philadelphia, and takes every opportunity to tell young people how much fun it is to be an engineer.

 “Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is excited to have Nicole as its new board chair,” said PDE Executive Director Kathy Klein. “She has been actively involved with PDE for several years and has demonstrated leadership and her commitment to our organization’s mission. PDE’s staff are excited to be working with Nicole along with all of our board members on behalf of clean waters, healthy habitats, and strong communities for the Delaware River and Bay.”

Read the 2022 TREB

PDE Releases 2022 Technical Report for the Delaware Estuary and Basin

Estuary and Basin maintains a “fair” health grade from 2017

 

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) recently unveiled its 2022 Technical Report for the Delaware Estuary and Basin (TREB). The report, which has been published every five years since 2012, is the culmination of two years of collaboration among environmental scientists in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. PDE staff, members of the Delaware River Basin Commission, and others, presented a snapshot of the TREB at the bi-annual Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit, held in Atlantic City.

Overall, there’s both good and bad news. The TREB concludes that the Delaware Estuary and Basin maintains its “fair” health rating. Sturgeon numbers are on the rise and nutrient loads have improved since the 1960s, but numbers of striped bass continue to decline and sea level rise is showing no sign of slowing down.

“The TREB helps us think about the health of the ecosystem as a whole rather than specific facets, and it shows that while we have made great progress we have more work to do to address legacy issues, emerging threats, and adapt to climate change,” said Danielle Kreeger, PDE’s Senior Science Director.

The TREB provides an overview of the status and trends of more than 50 environmental indicators, including a diverse suite of water, habitat, and living resources. It’s also a technical snapshot of the primary indicators of the Delaware River Watershed’s general health.

Some parameters, such as dissolved oxygen concentration and sturgeon abundance, are improving thanks to proactive management. For example, more than 90 percent of tested areas met dissolved oxygen criteria. On the other hand, some indicators such as impervious cover, winter streamflow, sea level rise, and striped bass abundance are of increasing concern.  For example, increasing impervious surface in the Delaware Estuary and Basin increases storm water runoff, flooding and can impair water quality.

“We are very grateful for all of the partners who contributed to the 2022 TREB including the members of the Delaware Estuary Program’s Science and Technical Advisory Committee,” said Kathy Klein, Executive Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. “The 440-page report is an important tool that helps to assess the overall environmental condition of the watershed. The indicators help raise awareness about important environmental issues, serve as tools for evaluating the effectiveness of management actions, and can function as early warning signals for detecting adverse changes in environmental quality.”

The Delaware Estuary Watershed and Basin contains a network of rivers, streams, and communities across 42 counties in four states, covering 13,539 square miles. These places are home to more than 13 million people who draw 6 billion gallons of water daily, not to mention thousands of birds, fish, and plants.

Namsoo Suk, Ph.D., DRBC’s Director of Science and Water Quality Management noted, “Our mission of managing, protecting and improving the water resources of the Delaware River Basin presents a natural partnership opportunity with the Delaware Estuary Program. Evaluation results for more than 50 environmental indicators in the 2022 TREB report better equip our agency to protect aquatic resources, human health, and communities. DRBC values PDE’s cooperative approach to connect technical expertise from our agency and other partners and make the TREB report a true partnership product.”

Later this year, PDE will release a State of the Estuary report. This non-technical summary uses TREB information to provide the public with insight into the status and trends of select natural resources in the Delaware Estuary.

The 2022 Technical Report for the Delaware Estuary & Basin Report can be found on PDE’s website at https://delawareestuary.org/data-and-reports/state-of-the-estuary-report-2/

Additional questions can be directed to the Estuary Science Manager LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D., at lhaaf@delawareestuary.org.

Calling All Artists!

She Shad by Sharon Lo Pinto

Turn trash into treasure

Are you a Delaware artist? How would you like to make something from recycled materials?

We’re soliciting proposals from local artists to create art from trash or recycled materials. The goal of this project is to teach people about trash in their waterways and help promote the Christina River Watershed Cleanup. The artwork should be movable so that it can be displayed around the City of Wilmington for different purposes/events.

For more information, check out the web page.

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