Sussex Conservation District advances coastal migration planning

The Sussex Conservation District has reached a major milestone in its coastal migration planning initiative, a multiyear effort to help landowners respond to the impacts of sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and habitat loss in Delaware’s low-lying tidal areas.

Delaware has the lowest average elevation of any U.S. state at just 60 feet above sea level, and it is considered a “sea level rise hot spot” due to the combined effects of rising seas and sinking land. Over the past century, sea level along the Delaware coast has risen approximately 13 inches. Projections show an additional rise of 1.6 to 4.9 feet by the year 2100, which could put 8 to 11 percent of the state underwater. That includes up to 74,000 acres of protected lands, including wildlife areas, parks and conservation easements.

Saltwater intrusion isn’t just an environmental concern; it has real economic consequences for Delaware farmers. When saltwater pushes inland, it alters soil chemistry, reduces yields and makes cropland increasingly difficult to manage. In some areas, fields that once grew corn, hay or vegetables are left with bare patches and unusable ground. These changes threaten the long-term viability of farming on some of the state’s most historic agricultural lands.

With funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the district partnered with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays to develop a geographic information system mapping tool that identified parcels under six feet in elevation and adjacent to tidal marshes.

As a result of this effort, more than 60 landowners have expressed interest in protecting over 3,750 acres. To date, more than a dozen landowners have received coastal migration conservation plans totaling more than 1,000 acres. The average plan size is 79 acres, and five plans are located in source water protection areas. Several plans also overlap with priority habitat zones for bobwhite quail and American black duck.

“This has been a years-long collaboration rooted in science, planning and local knowledge,” said Bryan Jones, SCD preservation program manager. “With sea levels rising and tidal areas under pressure, we’re proud to offer landowners the tools and support they need to make their properties more resilient.”

Each conservation plan includes maps, resource assessments and recommended practices tailored to the landowner’s goals and site conditions. Some landowners have already begun initiating practices, while others are exploring long-term protection through voluntary farmland or wetland easements.

Examples of recommended practices include shallow water impoundments, cover crops, forested buffers, irrigation water management and control of invasive species such as phragmites.

The district is working with local, state and federal partners to help landowners access technical assistance and financial support. Funding partners include the USDA NRCS and Farm Service Agency, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and conservation districts.

Conservation opportunities also exist with numerous local nonprofit organizations including Delaware Wild Lands, The Nature Conservancy and the Sussex County Land Trust.

To learn more or to request a conservation plan, go to sussexconservation.org or contact Bryan Jones at bryan.jones@de.nacdnet.net or 302-259-7459.