Contact: John Kennel, Division of Water Resources, phone: (302) 739-9949
or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs Office, phone: (302) 739-9902

Delaware Estuary Watershed Grants Program Workshop Set for June 8th/ Workshop at Brandywine Zoo Education Center in Wilmington

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend the final workshop for the 2006 Delaware Estuary Watershed Grants Program (DEWGP) scheduled for Thursday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Brandywine Zoo Education Center, 1001 North Park Drive, Brandywine Park in Wilmington.

The workshop is designed to provide an overview of the DEWGP and the essential elements of a strong proposal. With new and expanded requirements for this year’s application, eligible applicants, including previous grant recipients, are urged to attend. Eligible applicants include public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions and organizations, educational institutions, and local and state governments.

This year’s DEWGP Request for Proposals announces grants of $10,000 to $50,000 for projects that provide physical restoration of habitat and/or demonstrate innovative or regional approaches for improving the Delaware Estuary Watershed. To be considered for funding, projects must be located in the boundaries of the Delaware Estuary, including the major tributaries to the lower Delaware River and Bay.

The DEWGP is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with partner agencies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, including the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). John Kennel, with DNREC’s Division of Water Resources, will provide technical assistance to all prospective Delaware applicants.

In 2005, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in cooperation with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, awarded a total of $120,000 for five Delaware projects. Projects included the Brandywine Shad Restoration Phase II project and Phase I of the City of Milford’s Porcelain Berry Eradication Program, among others.

For information on the grant program, the application, and guidelines, visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s website at http://www.nfwf.org/programs/delaware.cfm

For more information on the workshop, contact Barrett Bohnengel at (202)857-0166 or barrett.bohnengel@nfwf.org Workshop RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

The Delaware Estuary Program works to restore the health and water quality of the Delaware Estuary. For more information, contact John Kennel at (302)739-9949 or by e-mail at John.Kennel@state.de.us
 

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