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May is American Wetlands Month

Written on: May 30th, 2016 in Outreach

American Wetlands Month was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1991 as a way to bring federal, state, and local organizations together to highlight the importance of wetlands to the environment, the economy, and the nation’s citizens.

“American Wetlands Month is a great time to discover the importance of wetlands and the significant benefits they provide,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Wetlands contribute to the quality of life in Delaware by protecting people and property from flooding and coastal storms, filtering pollutants from water, increasing fish and wildlife habitat and helping reduce the impacts of sea level rise. Efforts to protect and restore wetlands are critical to ensuring their economically valuable services.”

In support of American Wetlands Month, we have organized programs that raise awareness about wetland health and benefits, and encourage actions to protect them.

•  “Capture the Moment: I am a Wetland” Digital Photo Contest – Submissions are due by June 9.
• Delaware Wetland Warrior Award and the new Delaware Wetland Apprentice Award – Nominations for both awards are being accepted through June 24. Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary David Small will present the awards at the Delaware State Fair in July.
• Find wetland fun facts, photos from the field and educational resources on the Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
• We also encourage you to explore a wetland near you by visiting one of the state’s many environmental areas, including a Delaware State Park, DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center, DNREC’s Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve or a State Wildlife Area. On a visit, take a picture and tag #AmericanWetlandsMonth to spread the word.