Bag

Total plastic bag ban begins July 1

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Do you use reusable grocery store bags? Beginning July 1, you’ll have to choose between reusable and paper — and there won’t be any other options. Under Delaware’s 2019 plastic bag ban, stores were allowed to use the thicker 2.25 millimeter-thick plastic film bags, which were considered reusable under the law. Last June, the General Assembly enhanced the state’s plastic …

DE State Parks

Delaware State Parks on track to set visitation record

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

After breaking attendance records in 2021, Delaware State Parks is on pace to set another visitor attendance mark by the end of 2022, DNREC announced Friday. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation had 47,250 active annual passes that allow daily entry into Delaware State Parks compared with 61,744 in 2021, a 31% increase. …

Plastic Bag

Here’s how to get a free reusable grocery bag Friday

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

    Oh, we know. You barrel into the grocery store, pick up everything on your list and as you’re heading toward checkout, you remember you left your stack of reusable bags in the car. No matter. Practice makes perfect and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control staff wants to help you succeed. It’s handing out free …

Grenoble Place Crossing

Delaware Memorial Day dune crossing closures

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

Multiple vehicle and pedestrian beach access points will be closed during Memorial Day weekend, DNREC announced Thursday. The drive-on and walk-on crossings sustained damage during a May 8 nor’easter. Unsafe drop-offs along the dunes where the crossings meet the beach necessitated the closures. Very little beach is available for drive-on surf fishing, even during low tide at the closed locations, …

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DNREC to begin restoring beaches, dunes after powerful nor’easter

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Contol on Monday began restoring beaches after a powerful nor’easter caused widespread erosion and damage. The Mother’s Day weekend storm brought tropical-storm-force winds that affected communities along Delaware’s bayshore and Atlantic coast. “Our shoreline team will be hard at [work] for the foreseeable future on beach restoration priorities that this storm handed …

a boat on a body of water

Offshore wind research to begin near DE Seashore State Park

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Visitors to Delaware Seashore State Park will see an increase in research activity in the coming months, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Monday. US Wind and Ørsted, two offshore wind energy development companies, will conduct research and collect data to determine the best paths forward for their offshore wind projects. Both companies plan to update and …

a deer in a grassy field

Delaware hunters harvest 15,000 deer, donate 100,000 meals

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware hunters harvested 15,383 deer during the 2021-2022 hunting season and donated 24,333 pounds of venison to charity. Although the harvest was 10.9% lower than the 2020-2021 record harvest of 17,265 deer, the venison donation marked a 15% increase year over year.  That resulted in the provision of more than 100,000 meals to individuals and families in need. The most …

a close up of a lush green field

Earth Day celebrations offer new rain garden, salt marsh tour, more

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

    The Aquatic Resources Education Center on Saturday will host one-hour ‘Marsh Madness’ tours highlighting the tidal salt marsh to mark Earth Day. Photo courtesy of DNREC.   Delaware organizations are offering a variety of ways to celebrate Earth Day Friday and Saturday. New Castle County is inviting residents to participate in the installation Friday — which is Earth …

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Wild turkey season to kick off with one-day hunt for kids, disabled hunters

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

This year’s wild turkey hunting season will feature a soft opening on Saturday, April 2 followed by the opening of the regular season on Saturday, April 9.  The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Friday that the season will open with a one-day turkey hunt for non-ambulatory hunters and children ages 10 through 15. Delaware’s wild turkey …

a large body of water

The Point at Cape Henlopen to close for season

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

DNREC PHOTO The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean and bay beach, will be closed beginning March 1 for the duration of the spring and summer. Since 1993, The Point has closed annually for most of the spring and summer to protect threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds. Those species include red knots, piping …