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EPA awards $1.4 million grant to Delaware for controlling storm water runoff

Release Date: 9/15/2005
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567
PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $1.4 million grant to help control pollution from storm water runoff throughout Delaware.

The grant, which goes to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control=s non-point source program, will be combined with almost $1 million in state and local funds to support storm water projects.

“EPA is pleased to work with Delaware as a partner in supporting innovative approaches to cleaning up waterways that have been impaired by storm water runoff from agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial areas,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic Region.

Storm water pollution -- sometimes called non-point source pollution -- is caused by rainfall or melting snow moving over or through the ground and carrying natural or human-made pollutants into lakes, streams, rivers, oceans and other water bodies.

Some of the projects supported with the funding include:

• Working with shoreline property owners to develop erosion-control projects that will help stabilize and protect the Delaware shoreline.

• A tree planting program by Delaware’s Department of Agriculture Forest Service to develop riparian buffers in rural and urban environments throughout the state.

• Working with farmers to develop nutrient management plans and assist them with applications for dairy manure storage systems, poultry manure storage systems, poultry composters, nutrient management plans, and cover crops.

• Installing manmade ponds, filtration systems and piping to better control storm water runoff throughout the Inland Bays Watershed in Sussex County.

• Assess and restore a subwatershed in the Hockessin Village area of New Castle County at the headwaters of Mill Creek. This would include using best management practices and mitigation.