Delaware Coastal Programs

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve's Stewardship Program provides long-term protection of natural resources associated with the Reserve and serves to model responsible management practices to other organizations and individuals in nearby coastal communities. This involves a wide range of activities including land acquisition, habitat mapping through geographic information systems (GIS), ecological restoration, invasive species monitoring, resource inventories, demonstration areas, and more.

The stewardship goal of the Reserve is to protect the land and water resources of the Reserve while promoting biodiversity and conserving sensitive species and their habitats through resource protection, habitat management and public outreach. 

Examples of stewardship projects at the Reserve include:

• Alvin B. Wilson conservation practices demonstration area
• Blackbird Creek Reserve Master Restoration Plan
• Reforestation efforts
• Wetland restoration efforts
• Invasive species monitoring and control
• Bluebird box monitoring
• Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey.

For more information on the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve's stewardship efforts, please call (302) 739-3436.