This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to delaware center for inland bays

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and strategic plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. The projects proposed for funding via the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) will leverage existing efforts. Specifically, the recipient will implement projects with activities that include the capacity building, expansion of the outreach and education program, james farm shoreline management plan, resilience planning, terrapin signage, low impact development pilot project for oyster reefs, and more. Activities:the activities include projects that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the ccmp by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved ccmp and annual workplan. Expansion of the james farm shoreline management plan, expanding the outreach and education plan, building capacity will all support engagement of stakeholders and increase education of many individuals throughout the watershed. Resilience planning, terrapin signage, and a low impact development study will all increase positive impacts to natural resources, habitats and uses. Subrecipient:sub-award funds will be used to support a cost-share program for implementation of agricultural best management practices. Specifically, the recipient will produce one commercial in partnership with the sussex conservation district promoting CIB and best management practices and will produce a mailer to send to producers highlighting the use of BIL cost-share funds. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include purchase of a new pontoon boat to support educational tours of the bays along with access to projects, transfer of old outboard motor to center skiff, acquisition of new truck to support 'DON't chuck your shucks' oyster shell recycling program, outreach to students, hands on programs, 2 day educational journey summer program, assessment of entire shoreline and coastal zone of james farm ecological preserve, establishment of intertidal oyster reef at old basin cove, outfitted education building to support ongoing and enhanced education programs, priority list of restoration areas, technical report with methodologies and results, development and installation of 4 updated terrapin road crossing signs. The expected outcomes include successful administration of BIL funds for ccmp projects, increased understanding of agriculture's role in water quality, reduced nutrient and sediment loss from farmland, increased implementation of best management practices on agricultural lands, improved access to water quality monitoring network, better working platform for transfer of oyster shells, and live oysters for oyster reef and living shoreline projects, increased capacity to collect and recycle oyster shell, increased capacity to conduct environmental monitoring, increase program participant's environmental literacy by providing individuals with scientific knowledge of natural systems and inland bays ecology, and with the skills and motivation to make responsible decisions to protect the environment, protection of critical ecological communities with tidal marsh; maritime forest; dune; beach; and subaqueous habitats in the ecological preserve for public use, quantifiable increase in wild oyster populations in the inland bays, enhanced environmental education opportunities to youth and adults to help improve academic achievement, encourage environmental stewardship, and strengthen communities. The intend