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Lewes officials reopen the beach

November 6, 2020

Effective today, the Lewes Beaches are now open, officials announced Nov. 6. There is some remaining debris on the beach from the oil spill, and beachgoers are asked to not pick it up. They are also asked to be careful when walking near the grasses near the high tide line.

The beach was closed Oct. 22, after an oil spill off Broadkill Beach was discovered and tar balls began to wash ashore in Lewes. 

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, DNREC and contractors have been working to clean the beaches since then. Oil had been found on the beaches from Bowers Beach to Assateague Island State Park south of Ocean City, Md. 

The public is asked to continue reporting sizeable sightings of oiled debris or tar balls, or oiled wildlife.

For reports concerning the Delaware coastline, call DNREC’s toll-free environmental hotline at 800-662-8802. For reports concerning the Maryland coastline, call the Maryland Department of the Environment at 866-633-4686.

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