Ommelanden shooting ranges to temporarily close starting July 14

The Ommelanden shooting ranges will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, July 14, to allow for a lead recovery project. (Photo credit: DNREC)

New Castle— The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced Thursday that several shooting ranges at the Ommelanden Hunter Education and Training Center will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, July 14, to allow for a lead recovery project.

The closures will affect the trap, skeet, and 5-stand shooting fields while DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife carries out a cleanup of lead and clay target debris. The project is expected to be completed by Tuesday, Oct. 7.

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The Ommelanden Center is one of two state-managed shooting ranges and offers a variety of facilities, including trap and skeet shooting, rifle and pistol ranges, and archery.

What is a lead recovery project?

When people shoot at outdoor ranges, especially shotgun sports like trap, skeet, and 5-stand, they use ammunition that contains lead pellets. Over time, this lead builds up in the soil where the pellets land.

A lead recovery project is an environmental cleanup which involves:

• Digging up and collecting the lead shot and clay target fragments.

• Separating and removing the lead to prevent it from leaching into the soil or water.

• Restoring the area so that it can continue to be used safely.

This process helps protect wildlife, soil, and water quality from contamination due to years of shooting activity.

What’s still open?

• The rifle and pistol ranges will remain open to the public.

• Only the shotgun sports areas (trap, skeet, and 5-stand) are affected by the closure.

Claudia Estrada

Claudia is a Philadelphia-based journalist and reporter passionate about storytelling that informs and engages the community. Claudia, a proud Temple University graduate, has built a career covering impactful stories and creating compelling content across digital and print media platforms. With a strong background in writing, editing, and research, Claudia has worked on various topics, from local news to in-depth features, always striving to deliver meaningful and accurate reporting.