Please celebrate Earth Day with us by helping us continue our work at Middle Run Natural Area. Check on recently planted trees, put protective caging around new trees, trim invasive plants, and install bird boxes. Dress for the weather and wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Please park and gather at Polly Drummond Hill Shopping Center (McGlynn's Pub, Artisan's Bank, etc.). Contact Catherine Owens, Volunteer Coordinator at 302-239-2334 x111 or Email.

On Earth Day 2008, the Delaware Nature Society hosted a Gubernatorial Candidates Forum focused on environmental issues. Lt. Governor John Carney, State Treasurer Jack Markell, and Airline Pilot Mike Protack responded to questions relating to climate change, endangered species, sprawl, and Delaware's energy supply. An audio recording of the event and a complete list of questions submitted by the public will be posted soon.

Help Protect Delaware's Waters!

Join the Appoquinimink Technical Monitoring Team!
Become a citizen scientist and collect data that is used to protect Appoquinimink watershed. We will provide all the equipment and training. The Appoquinimink watershed is one of 6 watersheds currently monitored by volunteers in our technical monitoring program. This volunteer collected data is used and published by the state of Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

The Technical Monitoring program was developed to engage citizens in watershed protection, while supplementing the State's monitoring efforts. It provides reliable water quality data on our local rivers and streams. Delaware Stream Watch's Technical Monitoring program is recognized as a national example of the acceptance and use of volunteer data by the State and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each Technical Monitoring team collects data on visual appearance, depth, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, alkalinity, phosphates, conductivity and flow. All sites for this project are located on the Appoquinimink River or its tributaries in or near Middletown. The approximate volunteer time commitment is one hour per month.

Make a difference in your local watershed by raising awareness about stream health and contributing data to the State for the use in water quality reports and establishing water quality standards. Volunteer collected data will provide essential information about water quality trends in the Appoquinimink watershed that will assist the State with management decisions. This is a very important process especially as the Middletown, Odessa, and, Townsend area continues to grow.

Attend a free Technical Monitoring training workshop in partnership with Appoquinimink River Association. The workshop will be held at Cooch-Dayett Mill , a historical mill located off of Old Baltimore Pike, on the evening of Wednesday, April 30 at 6:30pm. All training, equipment, and replacement chemicals will be provided free of charge. No experience in water quality chemical testing is necessary. In addition, all volunteers will be assisted by Stream Watch staff the first time they monitor their site.

Appoqinimink Sites Available:

Spring Mill Branch of Drawyer Creek

South Branch Appoquinimink at Grears Corner Rd.

Hangman's Run at Taylors Bridge Rd.

To register or for any questions, please contact Ginger North at 302-239-2334 ext.100 or email at ginger@delawarenaturesociety.org.

Directions to Cooch-Dayett Mills:
From Newark: Proceed south on Route 896, cross I-95, and make a left on Old Baltimore Pike. After Old Cooches Bridge Road, make a right into the mill entrance.

From Middletown: Proceed north on Route 301. At the intersection with Route 896, continue straight through. Cross the C&D Canal Bridge. Continue north on Route 896. Just prior to I-95, make a right on Old Baltimore Pike. After Old Cooches Bridge Road, make a right into the mill entrance.

Cooch-Dayett Mills Open House
Stop by and explore the grist mill, view the turbine, peek into the mill race and find the Christina River on site!

May 18, 2008
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Free admission for DNS members
Non-Members: Adults $3.00
Children above 5 years old $1.00


Cooch-Dayett Mills is located off Delaware Route 72, just south of Old Baltimore Pike.

Modeled after the very popular Christina Watershed Series (shown at right), these lectures will highlight the value local watersheds have, discuss the threats posed, and describe what each of us can do to protect these valuable resources. The first Lecture will be held on Wednesday, June 4th in Georgetown at the University of Delaware's Carvel Research and Education Center starting at 7pm. It will focus on the Nanticoke watershed and its connection to the Chesapeake Bay. The first 50 attendees will receive a FREE rain barrel. The second lecture will be held in September and focus on the Inland Bays watershed. A speaker from Duffield Associates will be presenting on Rain Gardens for the Homeowner. For details and directions look on our website in the coming months.

Questions or to RSVP - contact Ginger North at 302-239-2334 ext. 100 or by Email. These lectures are co-sponsored by Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

Attend a free self-guided tour showcasing Newark-area gardens that attract birds and butterflies. Get ideas for your home landscaping. The gardens demonstrate reduced water use, reduced chemical and pesticide use, improved wildlife habitat, and attractive native plants. Registration is required in order to receive addresses, maps and directions of garden locations. To register, contact Newark Parks and Recreation Department at 302-366-7060.