The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of delaware to help administer the state of…

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of delaware to help administer the state of delawares national estuarine research reserve (DNERR). The reserve is administered by the delaware department of natural resources and environmental control (DNREC), who is submitting this application for federal FY24 and federal FY25 funds to support operations, research and monitoring, education, training and stewardship activities from october 1, 2024 through march 31, 2027. The funding request covers a 30-month period and will not result in any additional funding during the final six months of the grant award. DNREC is requesting $880,967 for FY24 and $969,064 for FY25 which will be matched by $377,558 (FY24) and $415,313 (FY25) from the DNREC. During fiscal years 24 and 25, the DNERR will focus on building upon the successes of the coastal training program (CTP), holding teachers on the estuary (TOTE) workshops, implementation of wetlands and water level approach, hosting a davidson fellow and raising awareness of the reserve and its research programs and community engagement opportunities. Operations funds will provide staffing, facilities, vehicle, and equipment support. Reserve staff will travel to the annual nerrs meeting and other assorted meetings as required and/or as funds allow. Trails will be maintained; conservation and stewardship practices will be implemented, and the sites will be maintained to a level that encourages public visits and ensures safety. The reserve manager will ensure the properties are managed in compliance with the reserve management plan. The education coordinator will continue to expand education programming at the ST. Jones and blackbird creek reserve sites. The education program will implement public community and school programming, volunteer citizen science activities, as well as outreach. A teachers on the estuary workshop will be held annually separately or in conjunction with neighboring reserves. The reserve will increase visibility through education partnerships with various state environmental education institutions and organizations. Volunteers will be used to conduct various education, research and stewardship projects at the reserve. The coastal training program (CTP) will continue to provide workshops and trainings to coastal decision- makers on relevant topics to delaware. Workshops will address topics as outlined in the DNERR strategic plan for 2022-2027. These efforts will also be coordinated with delaware coastal management program. The research program will implement system-wide monitoring program (SWMP), wetlands and water level, and integrated applied research. Due to the close working relationship between the DNERR and the delaware coastal management program, research activities will be very closely associated and directed to providing sound scientific information to support coastal decision-making. Through this collaboration, the programs maximize staff time and funding to produce results that benefit coastal decision-makers throughout the state. DNERR is a cooperating partner in the delaware environmental observing system (DEOS). Additionally, the research program will continue to explore partnerships to increase projects within the reserve that address research priorities as stated in the DNERR management plan. DNERR will continue its restoration efforts as resources allow, using an ecological restoration master plan developed for the blackbird creek reserve and updated land management plans. Phased implementation of established restoration priorities will continue to provide baseline data for monitoring, characterization of parcel habitats, the design and implementation of determined priority areas.