DOVER (March 22, 2013) – Applications are being accepted through March 28 for Universal Recycling grants and low interest loans for Delaware’s commercial sector to assist them in collecting, transporting, processing and marketing recyclables.

DOVER (March 22, 2013) – A training workshop on preventing and managing invasive plants and supporting healthy habitats will be held 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 24 at the St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road in Dover

NEW CASTLE COUNTY (March 21, 2013) – DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara encourages volunteers to join the Christina River Cleanup along the river and several of its tributaries on Saturday, April 6 from 8 a.m. until noon at 12 sites throughout northern New Castle County. Due to other activities that day, two sites will begin the cleanup early – the City of Newark at 7:30 a.m. and the Naamans Creek site at 8 a.m.

SUSSEX COUNTY (March 20, 2013) – More volunteers are needed at two sites – South Bethany Beach and Delaware Seashore State Park - for Delaware’s annual beach grass planting set for 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 23.

LEWES (March 21, 2013) – The staff at Cape Henlopen State Park invites the public to the Seaside Nature Center on Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28 to participate in fun springtime programs.

DOVER (March 20, 2013) – DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service are teaming up to conduct a prescribed fire on 16 acres of meadow and shrub habitats in Brandywine Creek State Park near Wilmington. The burn is expected to occur between Friday, March 22 and Sunday, March 31, during the middle of the day, depending on weather conditions.

DOVER (March 20, 2013) – DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation will host a public open house for the proposed Gordon’s Pond Trail in Cape Henlopen State Park. The Open House will be held 7 – 9 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, at the Lewes Library, 111 Adams Ave., in Lewes.

DOVER (March 18, 2013) – Meadow habitat is home to many native species in Delaware, from cottontail rabbits and bobwhite quail, to insects and smaller mammals, to nesting wild turkeys. To provide habitat for these and other species, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife currently maintains several hundred acres of state wildlife areas as meadows, managing low plants such as native grasses and wildflowers.

DOVER (March 18, 2013) – To encourage water conservation and promote wise use of it throughout the state, DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is again offering rain barrels at a discounted price to Delaware residents in April at pickup locations in each county. Having a rain barrel provides an innovative way to capture rainwater from your roof and store it for later use. Water collected from rain barrels can be used to wash cars and to water lawns, gardens and indoor plants.

DOVER (March 18, 2013) – The judges’ decisions are in, with five top entries chosen for the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 2012 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. First place was awarded to Robin James of Middletown for “Three Generations,” showing her father, Michael Sethman, her 2-year-old nephew Zach Sethman, and her brother, Nicholas Sethman, with waterfowl decoys and calls at Augustine Wildlife Area near Delaware City.

PRIME HOOK (March 18, 2013) – The winning entries of the 2013 Delaware Junior Duck Stamp Competition will be judged at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 23 at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton. The entries will be displayed at the center until Saturday, March 30.

DOVER (March 15, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents made 574 contacts with the public, including 23 boating safety checks, in which all vessel operators were found to be in compliance. Agents also responded to 20 complaints and issued 14 citations between March 6 and 13.

DOVER (March 14, 2013) – With spring just around the corner and summer not far behind, the marine mammal and sea turtle stranding season also nears, which means beachgoers could soon come upon seals, porpoises, dolphins, sea turtles and occasionally large whales that have stranded on shore or in shallow coastal waters.

DOVER (March 14, 2013) – Wildlife art enthusiasts, stamp and print collectors, waterfowl hunters, anglers, birdwatchers and wetland conservationists will gather at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 11 at the Delaware Agriculture Museum and Village in Dover to watch the judging of Delaware’s annual Waterfowl Stamp (formerly known as Duck Stamp) and Trout Stamp contests.

DOVER (March 14, 2013) – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 on a proposed addition to the state’s tidal finfish regulations to include definitions and measures designed to control invasive finfish species in Delaware’s tidal waters. The hearing will be held in the DNREC Auditorium at 89 Kings Highway in Dover.

DOVER (March 14, 2013) – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 to consider proposed amendments to the state’s tidal finfish regulations on summer flounder. The hearing will be held in the DNREC Auditorium at 89 Kings Highway in Dover.

DOVER (March 13, 2013) – Prior to Delaware’s 2013 spring turkey season, youth ages 10 to 15 and non-ambulatory hunters with disabilities will have a special one-day hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 6.

LEWES (March 14, 2013) – On Saturday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m., Fort Miles staff will offer tours of Battery 519 by lantern light. Visitors will learn how soldiers defended the coastline during World War II. The program meets at the Fort Miles Orientation Building and is suitable for ages 10 and up.

SUSSEX COUNTY (March 12, 2013) – More volunteers are needed at South Bethany and Delaware Seashore State Park for Delaware’s annual beach grass planting event set for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23. The event, now in its 24th year, helps protect Delaware shorelines by planting Cape American beach grass on sand dunes at beaches along the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

DOVER (March 13, 2013) – Prior to Delaware’s 2013 spring turkey season, youth ages 10 to 15 and non-ambulatory disabled hunters will have a special one-day hunt opportunity on Saturday, April 6. This year, youth and disabled hunters will be able to hunt turkeys on state wildlife areas. Traditionally, this special one-day hunt had been restricted to private property.