Makeover
TAKING SHAPE:
PDE Sets Sights on 2025 Groundbreaking for Freshwater
Mussel Hatchery and Education Center
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Bartram’s Garden plan to break ground next year on a new freshwater mussel hatchery and ecosystems education center in southwest Philadelphia. The hatchery will produce up to 1 million freshwater mussels
the world-class facility to produce freshwater mussels to get these native animals back into local waterways to filter water (up to 10 gallons per day per adult mussel) and improve habitat conditions.
When finished, PDE’s freshwater mussel hatchery could produce up to 1 million mussels per year, and Bartram’s Garden’s adjacent education center could attract 125,000 visitors per year. Rendering courtesy of WRT.
annually, and the ecosystems education center could attract 125,000 visitors per year.
As PDE and Bartram’s Garden continue to raise the funding needed to start construction on this $20 million turnkey venture, the nonprofits are finalizing the engineering plans for construction and laying the groundwork for the educational programming and services they’ll offer. Once operational, PDE scientists will use
The 20,000-square-foot facility will be located on previously developed land at Bartram’s Garden at 56th Street and Bartram’s Drive. The hatchery portion of the building will be 8,000 square feet and consist of dry and wet laboratories, nursery and hatchery space, and offices. The rest of the complex will include indoor and outdoor classrooms, a commercial kitchen, and a welcome center with exhibit space.
PDE is just $2 million short of its fundraising goal. If you’d like to donate or learn more about the hatchery, contact Elizabeth Horsey at ehorsey@delawareestuary.org for more information.
HEALTHY HABITATS: H1.3/ H1.4
STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.1/C1.3/ C1.4
Meetings conducted by the Delaware Estuary Program’s implementation and advisory committees occur on a regular basis and are open to the public. For meeting dates and times, please contact the individuals listed below:
Estuary Implementation Committee
Kathy Klein
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Executive Director (Chair) (302) 354-0307 kklein@DelawareEstuary.org
Monitoring Advisory & Coordination Committee
Elaine Panuccio
Water Restoration
Scientist, Water Quality Assessment
Delaware River Basin Commission (609) 883-9500, ext. 307 elaine.panuccio@drbc.gov
Toxics Advisory Committee
Jeremy Conkle Senior Toxicologist
Delaware River Basin Commission (609) 883-9500 Jeremy.Conkle@drbc.gov
Science and Technical Advisory Committee
LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D.
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Assistant Director of Estuary Science (800) 445-4935, ext. 116 lhaaf@delawareestuary.org
Water Quality Advisory Committee
John Yagecic, P.E. Manager, Water Quality Assessment
Delaware River Basin Commission (609) 883-9500, ext. 271 john.yagecic@drbc.nj.gov
ON THE COVER
The Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware’s official tall ship, docks on the Christina River by the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s office and museum on 7th Street in Wilmington, Delaware.
FOLLOW US ON:
GREEN DREAMS: PDE Hosts Gathering for Environmental Justice
By John Harrod, PDE’s Engagement Director
On March 12, more than 100 environmental professionals, community leaders, and government representatives from around the Delaware River Watershed gathered at the Rutgers University Camden Campus Center in New Jersey to discuss environmental justice.
PDE hosted this free event in collaboration with the Delaware River location of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Participants from across the watershed, including Trenton and Camden, New Jersey, Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia and Chester, Pennsylvania, left the event better equipped to move forward with environmental sustainability work in their communities in a more coordinated, efficient, and effective manner.
Rutkosky, a fish and wildlife biologist, said projects that advance environmental justice and community stability need momentum. For example, she cited a native plant garden project in Chester that she learned about at the forum.
During the Gathering’s afternoon sessions, attendees broke into groups to discuss climate change and engaging youth in community discussions. They also explored incorporating green infrastructure into urban spaces, including urban greening and tactics such as rooftop gardens, parks, and porous pathways for walking and bicycling. The day ended with a session that shared tips and tricks on how to get environmental justice projects funded. In between sessions, attendees had time to network, visit exhibitor tables, and share resources.
Urban community group leaders shared inspiring success stories on diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice. The group also discussed topics such as effective partnership strategies, advocacy, engagement with community members, and elevating community voice.
“It was a very positive experience for everyone that was there,” said attendee Flavia Rutkosky of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This event was planned in collaboration with PDE and workgroup members of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Delaware River location. The Gathering was made possible by funding support provided by a PSEG Foundation Neighborhood Partners grant and from EPA under an assistance agreement funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Other event sponsors included NJ American Water, The Michaels Organization, a Friend of the Estuary, and Leading Light Wind.
You can see photos and watch sessions from the EJ Gathering through the PDE website
STRONG COMMUNITIES: C2.2
More than 100 environmental professionals, community leaders, and government representatives from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware attended PDE’s first Environmental Justice Gathering at the Rutgers University Camden Campus Center in New Jersey. Attendees broke into discussion groups in the afternoon to tackle climate change and engaging youth in community discussions.
Karen Forst, PDE’s Grants Director, provides some tips and tricks on funding environmental justice projects.
MOTHER NATURE MAKEOVER:
Christina River to Get its First Living Shoreline
By Ella Rothermel, PDE’s Urban Resilience Assistant Manager
The Christina and Brandywine rivers in Wilmington, Delaware, are experiencing an exciting resurgence. After decades of pollution and neglect, recent developments are improving public access and allowing people to connect with these waterways in new and meaningful ways. PDE is part of this progress by building the first living shoreline on the Christina River.
A living shoreline is an erosion-control method often seen along rivers, bays, creeks, and other bodies of water to reinforce and hold their banks in place. Living shorelines are engineered to withstand wind, storms, flooding, and the continuous slap of waves against land. They also provide habitat for fish and wildlife because they’re made with natural materials such as strong-rooted native plants and grasses, rocks, sand, and shells.
Next year, work will begin at the site, including landscaping using native plants and other upland improvements in addition to the
For nearly a decade, a swale of native plants and other vegetation has provided a buffered space between the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s building and the dock where Delaware’s official tall ship calls home. The living shoreline that PDE will build at the site next year will complement this natural buffer and further reinforce this area where the land and river meet.
Above: The Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware’s official tall ship, docks on the Christina River. Next year, PDE, Sarver Ecological LLC, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will build a living shoreline in this area.
protective barrier, or breakwater, to stabilize the shoreline around the ship’s docks and protect newly-improved habitats. Together, these elements will provide new opportunities for fish and wildlife to thrive in the area.
living shoreline. The living shoreline will complement existing swales of native and pollinator-friendly plants that act as a buffer between the tall ship’s dock and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s office and museum on 7th Street in Wilmington, which is just a few miles downriver from Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s offices.
Working with Wilmingtonbased Sarver Ecological, LLC, a custom ecological services company, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s remediation section, PDE will tear out invasive plants that have sprouted over the years and tangled with native plants, then add locally sourced wetland vegetation in a mudflat to provide more ecological complexity and diversity. PDE will also build a
A key highlight of the project will be freshwater mussels. PDE will have young mussels in protective baskets near the shoreline to teach visitors about the unique ecology of our freshwater tidal rivers. The area will simultaneously serve as a test location for PDE’s freshwater mussel growing program and as a citizen science monitoring initiative so the community can participate in measuring our success. Through this effort, visitors to the Kalmar Nyckel campus will have the chance to gain hands-on experience tending baskets and tracking the growth of freshwater mussels while learning about the importance of the ecosystem services they provide.
The Christina River’s first living shoreline will continue recent trends of reconnecting people to their waterways by offering examples of the species and habitats that initially existed and could once again flourish in the tidal Christina with continued improvements to the watershed.
“We are so proud to be working with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to restore the shoreline on the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s riverfront campus,” said Cathy Parsells, Executive Director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. “Restoring native shore life and creating a natural habitat for regional birds, pollinators, and all kinds of marine life has always been a goal for our maritime campus. Having a living shoreline means that the public will have access to this special place while it naturally improves water quality, too.”
This project is part of the Christina and Brandywine Rivers Remediation, Restoration, and Resilience project, or CBR4, whose core mission is to improve these waters to a more fishable and swimmable state.
STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.1/ C1.2/C1.3/C1.4
HABITATS: H1.3/ H1.4
Native Brown-eyed Susans and swamp milkweed grow in a swale outside the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s office building and museum.
SPRING ROUNDUP
We were busy bees this spring. We kicked off the season with some serious spring cleaning, an epic art show, and even dabbled in some scientific shenanigans. And guess what? We haven’t slowed down one bit since then!
1. Volunteers and the Schuylkill Action Network helped keep Pennsylvania clean at the annual Scrub and Pub on March 21. This group collected 1,660 lbs. of trash, equivalent to 35 water cooler jugs or 1.5 grand pianos. Special thanks to Upper Merion Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania American Water, Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, the Philadelphia Water Department; and Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company. 2. In April, the 32nd Annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup occurred in New Castle County, Delaware. PDE partnered with the City of Wilmington this year to focus primarily on residential neighborhoods in the Brandywine Village section of the city. Volunteers at this site collected approximately 25 bags of trash, including old tires, wrappers, jugs of motor oil, and other debris. Volunteers from 11 sites in New Castle County collected more than 50 tons of trash to keep it from further polluting our neighborhoods and waterways.
3. In tandem with the Christina River Watershed Cleanup, PDE held an art contest focusing on the importance of clean waterways. PDE displayed entries at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, where there was also a reception to celebrate contest participants and winners. From left: June Hazewski, third place; Natalie Orga, first place; and Katie Brown, second place. 4. LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D., PDE’s Assistant Director of Estuary Science, sits on steps that have been created to research marsh flooding related to sea level rise. Villanova University installed the steps as part of a research project to discover how freshwater tidal plants, such as spadderdock (Nuphar advena), grow at different water elevations. Each step represents a different flood level, where potted plants are placed for study. The lower steps represent more flooding because the plants sit underwater for longer periods. In comparison, the higher steps would spend more time out of water. 5. Paxton Easton, PDE’s Science Intern, left, and Leah Morgan, PDE’s Estuary Science Coordinator, tag freshwater mussels, which helps PDE scientists keep track of and monitor the mussel growth in various study sites. 6. You’re on the hook! Thanks to the EPA and the Philadelphia Water Department for helping PDE celebrate Earth Day with our Trash Free Waters ad campaign. The ad was created from the winning entry in our 2023 Trash Free Waters art contest. The ad’s message reminds Philadelphians to avoid littering and keep trash out of our waterways. From left: PDE's Executive Director Kathy Klein, Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman, the City of Philadelphia's Government Clean and Green Initiatives Office Director Carlton Williams, and the U.S. EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Deputy Regional Administrator Cathy Libertz.
SPLASH DOWN!
RV Tkuweyo Takes its Maiden Voyage
On June 12, under a brilliant blue sky, PDE and friends cut the ribbon on its first research boat, RV Tkuweyo, at a special splash-down ceremony at the Hansey Creek Boat Launch area in Port Norris, New Jersey.
PDE will use RV Tkuweyo to access remote locations in the Delaware Bay for study and to support marsh and freshwater mussel restoration projects across the tidal portion of the Delaware Estuary. RV Tkuweyo can transport up to five people, samples, and equipment.
Yamaha Rightwaters supports coastal resilience work to keep waterways robust and thriving.
“The continued health and maintenance of coastal environments is a key focus of Yamaha Rightwaters,” said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “Working with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Yamaha Rightwaters supports marine environment research and marsh and freshwater mussel restoration projects. We look forward to participating in the growth of the program.”
Tkuweyo, the Lenape word for “wave,” is a 20-foot-long G3 Gator Tough jon boat with a Yamaha V MAX SHO® 115 outboard engine. The boat, motor, trailer, and amenities come to PDE through a trio of corporate, foundation, and government support. PDE is eternally grateful to Yamaha Rightwaters, Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company, and the Environmental Protection Agency under an Assistance Agreement funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for making the boat acquisition possible.
“EPA is proud to support the scientific efforts of this partnership, which are crucial to the sustainability of this vital estuary,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “While we’ve seen real progress in recent decades, this vessel will help ensure that the essential work of restoring water quality and aquatic habitat in the Delaware Estuary will continue into the future.”
A research vessel has been on PDE’s wish list for more than a decade. Not having a boat has been challenging for PDE’s scientists, who spend an estimated 60 days a year in the Delaware Estuary’s waterways and wetlands researching water quality, impacts of climate change and sea level rise, and other environmental challenges facing the Delaware River and Bay’s ecosystems.
“This is more than a boat to PDE,” said LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D., PDE’s Assistant Director of Estuary Science.
“With this vessel, our scientists can access remote tidal wetlands and will now have the
From left, Craig Durand, PDE’s Board Vice President; LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D., PDE’s Assistant Director of Estuary Science; Julia Balte, Sustainability Coordinator for Yamaha Rightwaters; Becky Iaconelli, President of Professional Edge Fishing, Inc., and Martha Maxwell-Doyle PDE’s Program Director cut the ribbon on PDE’s new research boat, RV-Tkuweyo.
PDE staff and partners celebrate for RV Tkuweyo’s first voyage on Hansey Creek in Port Norris, New Jersey.
PUTTING IDEAS TO ACTION: Homegrown Habitats Participants Start Applying Gardening Expertise
In front of Nkhil Nirmel’s Wilmington, Delaware, residence is a charming display of lush, colorful native plants. Vibrant reddish-orange wild columbine blossoms sit alongside blazing star plants that will pop with tufts of purple flowers.
Nirmel is delighted with the recent enhancement of his home and the flourishing plants he acquired this spring.
“I am confident that they will spread, bloom, and become even more beautiful in the near future,” Nirmel said.
Nirmel not only has native plants growing at his home, but now he knows how to keep them healthy and why they’re good for the environment, thanks to a program called Homegrown Habitats. Homegrown Habitats is one of PDE’s efforts to promote home gardening using native plants.
Native plants are relatively easy to cultivate and naturally resilient due to their local soil and climate adaptation. Their robust root systems effectively capture stormwater, aid groundwater recharge, and provide habitats for essential pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies.
Last fall, the Homegrown Habitats Program featured gardening workshops that explored the ecological
A Wilmington resident happily shows off the native plants she received from PDE’s Homegrown Habitats Program. Last fall, PDE taught residents about the benefits of gardening at home with native species, and this spring, attendees were given some plants of their own to put their newfound knowledge into practice.
benefits of native plants and provided guidance on selecting plants suitable for shade or sunlight. PDE encouraged workshop participants to translate their knowledge into action this spring by providing plants for their yards and containers.
Tomisha Street is a Wilmington resident who participated in the workshops with her family and found the gardening advice valuable, particularly the tips on mosquito control.
“Discovering that mosquitoes dislike moving water inspired me to consider a running bird bath to combat pests and enhance bird watching!” Street said. “Everything I learned has been incredibly beneficial, as this is all new to me. My partner has gained valuable knowledge to maintain our outdoor space.”
Later this year, PDE plans to offer the Homegrown Habitats Program to residents from Chester, Pennsylvania.
PDE received financial support for this program from the EPA under an Assistance Agreement funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
CLEAN WATERS: W1.3 / W1.4 STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.2/C2.3
Nkhil Nirmel shows off some native plants growing in a planter by his Wilmington, Delaware, home. Nirmel got the plants through PDE’s Homegrown Habitats initiative, which teaches the benefits of gardening at home with native plants.
WANDERING ‘ROUND THE WATERSHED
From time to time, PDE would like to take you Wandering around the Delaware River Watershed to explore the beautiful places you can visit in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
This issue explores Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Smyrna, Delaware. Bombay Hook was established in 1937
and is a refuge and breeding ground for migrating birds and other wildlife.
On May 31, Bombay Hook opened a new visitor center in honor of U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper. Senator Carper has been a longtime advocate for the National Estuary Program, Delaware's National Wildlife Refuges, and federal investments in local coastal community conservation and restoration efforts. He is also Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The new building includes environmentally minded features, such as bird-friendly window treatments, electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels, and other elements that meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification for sustainable design.
Bombay Hook is located at 2519 Whitehall Neck Road in Smyrna, Delaware. For hours and other visitor information, visit the Bombay Hook website
STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.3/ C1.4/ C2.1
Splash Down continued from page 8
freedom to explore on-the-water opportunities in the urban areas of the estuary. There’s significant savings too. We will no longer have to rent a boat or spend time coordinating those rentals. The impact of this boat cannot be understated. The excitement we feel, and opportunities it will unlock, are substantial.”
As a longtime supporter of PDE, Aqua immediately took the
chance to help the organization fulfill its mission.
“When few funding sources were available to help purchase a resource that is so integral to the organization’s research and restoration work, we felt we had to step up,” said Aqua’s Lead for Corporate Giving and Community Affairs, Krista Seng, who also serves on PDE’s board. “Our water resources will be better for it, and
that is at the heart of what we do.”
If you spot PDE scientists zipping across the waves, they’re probably dashing toward their next mission: supporting clean waters, healthy habitats, and strong communities.
HEALTHY HABITATS: H1 – H3
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge recently opened a new nature center in honor of U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper of Delaware. Photo credit: Will Helt / The Nature Conservancy
2024 DELAWARE RIVER FESTIVAL
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, and Wiggins Park, Camden, New Jersey
Cost: Free
Fall will be here before you know it, so plan to kick it off in style at the Delaware River Festival. This FREE event will provide hours of fun for yourself and your family and is conveniently located at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia and Wiggins Park behind the Center for Aquatic Sciences in Camden, New Jersey.
Pedal along in a swan boat or take the RiverLink Ferry across the historic Delaware River to learn why we celebrate this “lifeblood of the northeast” that provides drinking water to more than 10 million people. While at the Festival, join in some brainy games that will help you learn about the environment while having a blast and experience some incredible critters first hand. You can also learn about all the fantastic plants and animals that make their home in the Delaware River Basin. Keep up with all the exciting developments by visiting the Delaware River Festival’s website You can also visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more. The handle is @DelRivFest.
SAVE THE DATE!
EXPERIENCE THE ESTUARY CELEBRATION
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Vie by Cescaphe, 600 N. Broad St., Philadelphia
Save the Date! You’re invited to join Partnership for the Delaware Estuary for an elegant evening in Philadelphia this October. The Experience the Estuary Celebration will feature incredible food, cocktails, and raw Delaware Bay oysters. PDE’s celebration is your chance to rub elbows with old friends and make new ones, bid in the silent auction, and support PDE’s mission-driven work. Tickets are now on sale here. For more information about the event or how to sponsor this special celebration, please contact Elizabeth Horsey at ehorsey@delawareestuary.org.
DELAWARE ESTUARY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT
Feb. 11-12, 2025
Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison St., Wilmington, Delaware
Next February, we’re moving the Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit closer to home when we hold it at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware.
The biennial Summit provides an excellent opportunity to learn, share, and network about different topics and issues affecting the Delaware River Watershed. Are you interested in presenting your research? To submit an abstract, or for all other information related to the Summit, visit our website here.
STRONG
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DELAWARE ESTUARY CONNECTING PEOPLE, SCIENCE, AND NATURE FOR A HEALTHY DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, host of the Delaware Estuary Program, leads collaborative, science–based efforts to improve the Delaware River and Bay, which covers portions of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. To find out how you can become one of our partners, call PDE at (800) 445-4935 or visit our website at www.DelawareEstuary.org
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc.
Kathy Klein (800) 445-4935, ext. 102 kklein@DelawareEstuary.org
Environmental Protection Agency
Irene Purdy, EPA Region II (212) 637-3794 purdy.irene@epa.gov
Megan Mackey, EPA Region III (215) 814-5534 mackey.megan@epa.gov
Pennsylvania
David Burke Department of Environmental Protection (484) 250-5822 daburke@pa.gov
Delaware
Rachael Phillos Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (302) 735-3411
Rachael.Phillos@delaware.gov
New Jersey
Natalie Young Department of Environmental Protection (609) 940-4512 Natalie.Young@dep.nj.gov
Delaware River Basin Commission
Chad Pindar (609) 883-9500, ext. 268 chad.pindar@drbc.gov
Philadelphia Water Department
Will Whalon (267) 207-0937 william.whalon@phila.gov
Editor
Kate Layton (800) 445-4935, ext. 113 klayton@DelawareEstuary.org
Estuary News encourages reprinting of its articles in other publications. Estuary News is produced four times annually by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. (PDE), under an assistance agreement (CE-99398516-0) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of this newsletter is to provide an open, informative dialogue on issues related to PDE. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of PDE or EPA, nor does mention of names, commercial products or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. For information about the PDE, call (302) 655-4990. Review Our Notice of Non-Discrimination, Request for Equal Access, and How to File a Complaint
