Nominations sought for Delaware’s 2014 Wetland Warrior; deadline June 27

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is seeking nominations for the 2014 Delaware Wetland Warrior Award to recognize exemplary efforts to protect wetlands and the critical services they provide to all Delawareans.

The Wetland Warrior Award is presented annually to a citizen, organization, business or other group that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to benefit Delaware wetlands through outreach and education, monitoring and assessment, or restoration and protection. The award will be presented on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 24, at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

“Every year, wetland stewards work tirelessly to protect Delaware’s natural resources, not for profit or gain, but for the satisfaction of conserving one of Delaware’s natural treasures. This award is our way of saying thank you,” said Margaret Pletta, a wetland outreach specialist. “Without the continual work and assistance of Delaware’s Wetland Warriors to slow wetland loss, help restore degraded wetlands, preserve habitat, increase awareness of the value of wetlands and bolster support for protection, wetland protection in Delaware would be nothing compared to what it is today.”

Information on submitting a nomination, as well as more information on past recipients, can be found on DNREC’s Delaware Wetland Warrior Award web page. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, June 27. For more information, contact Pletta at 302-739-9939 or Margaret.Pletta@state.de.us.

Delaware has more than 320,000 acres of wetlands, comprising about 25 percent of the state’s area. Wetlands protect lives and property from the impacts of floods and storms, filter pollutants and improve water quality, reduce erosion and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, Pletta said. Almost every part of the state is within one mile of a wetland, making wetland protection vital to Delaware's health and safety.

The 2013 Wetland Warrior, Terry Higgins, Wesley College professor emeritus, was chosen for a lifetime dedicated to restoring and protecting wetlands.

For more information, go to de.gov/delawarewetlands.