By Beth Krumrine, DNREC environmental scientist
Soil & Water's Sediment and Stormwater Program partnered with the Delaware National Estuarine Research (DNERR) at the 2007 Delaware State Fair recently for an interactive exhibit focusing on the effects of stormwater run-off on the Delaware Bay estuary.
Children of all ages stepped up to a scale model of a Delaware watershed, which featured a golf course, construction site, farm, parking lot, roadway, farm, river and estuary. Participants were then asked to "top-dress" chicken manure (coffee) on the farm field, add fertilizers (green sprinkles) to the golf course and lawn, drop oil (maple syrup) on the parking lot, and to wash cars (with a squirt bottle) on the driveway of the residence. They even had a chance to drip oil from a leaking automobile transmission (maple syrup again). They also simulated rainfall (more downpour from the squirt bottle) to make observations of its effects on the estuary.
Participants then utilized a range of conservation practices to reduce the amount of pollution that went into Delaware Bay, among them wetland and pond creation and restoration, buffer strips, and even a silt fence (represented by various colors and kinds of sponges).
When the activity was repeated, participants witnessed the absorption and filtering ability of these practices in reducing downstream pollution. Stormwater and Sediment scientists then asked the participants to come up with ways that might help protect Delaware’s waterways at their home. For doing so and for taking part in the interactive display, everyone who tried on the idea of bettering or being more cognizant of the watershed environment left with a prize of their choice from a nifty assortment offered by the Division of Soil & Water Conservation.
