Contact: Jennifer Wheatley, Shoreline and Waterway Management, phone: (302) 739-9921
or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Protect Coastal Sand Dunes This Winter; Recycle Your Old Christmas Tree at a State Park Instead of Placing on a Dune

Delaware’s coastal sand dunes may be picturesque, but they serve a more important purpose than beauty. Dunes act as dynamic barriers to storm surges and waves, protecting property from flooding and protecting lives. In addition, they provide a habitat for many animals, including migratory birds.

DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation asks the public to help protect Delaware’s coastal dunes by not placing old Christmas trees on dunes, but to recycle them at a state park.

Dead trees left on dunes will smother and kill beachgrass and other vegetation and is not an efficient way to help build a sand dune. When the grass is gone or has been destroyed, sand deposition cannot occur as quickly and sand can be lost from the area. In addition dead trees and brush are fire hazards, which can lead to the destruction of established dunes and wildlife habitat.

Christmas trees can be recycled at one of seven state parks from Monday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Jan. 15. DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation will accept old trees from individual families each day from 8 a.m. to sunset at the following parks: Bellevue, Brandywine Creek, Lums Pond, White Clay Creek, Killens Pond, Cape Henlopen and Trap Pond. The trees must be free of ornaments and other decorations. Wreaths and artificial trees will not be accepted nor will trees from commercial haulers or tree vendors. To help defray costs, donations of $2 per tree will be accepted. For more information on Christmas tree recycling at Delaware State Parks, contact Gary Focht, (302) 284-4526.

DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation has worked for many years to establish and maintain dunes along Delaware’s coastline. The Division has sponsored the annual beach grass planting event held in March. Over the past 17 years many dedicated volunteers have worked with DNREC to help build and stabilize sand dunes by planting more than 4,640,000 stems of Cape American beachgrass on Delaware’s ocean and bay beaches.

“Beachgrass protects the dunes from erosion,” said Jennifer Wheatley, DNREC environmental scientist. “It’s a hardy plant, however, we encourage people to help protect dunes by not walking or driving over them, but to use the designated crossovers whenever possible.”

For information on dune protection and the Annual Beach Grass Planting, contact Jennifer Wheatley, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, (302)739-9921.

DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation preserves and protects the state’s soil, water and coastal resources by managing the state’s shoreline, coastal zone and navigable waterways, by regulating coastal and urban land use and construction activities, by promoting wise agricultural and urban land management practices and by promoting wise water management public safety. For more information visit DNREC’s web site, www.dnrec.delaware.gov
 

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