It is hard to believe that only five years have passed since the Appoquinimink River Association was created.
Overseen by the Board of Directors, many exciting projects have been planned and put into operation over the past five years. We at the ARA thought we would take a look back at some of our favorite projects from the past.
The First Steps
The Appoquinimink Watershed is a complex network of natural ecosystems and human development. To better identify both the needed enhancement of the natural resources and the opinions of the watershed residents, the ARA aided in the implementation of two guiding documents of the nonprofit. The first was the Watershed Assessment that was prepared for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) by the Center for Watershed Protection. The Watershed Assessment evaluated the current condition of the Appoquinimink Watershed and made recommendations on how to improve stormwater runoff issues. The second document was a watershed resident opinion survey conducted by Responsive Management. The document informs the ARA of local residents’ thoughts, concerns, and beliefs about water pollution related topics. These two publications aid the ARA in determining how we can better serve the watershed and its residents by the projects we implement.
Rain Garden
Creating a rain garden from a dry stormwater pond was the first large-scale demonstration project that the (ARA) created. Housed at the Jean Birch MOT Senior Center in Middletown, this vegetated area provides water quality benefits by filtering nearly 5 million gallons of water a year. Although the creation of the rain garden is complete, the ARA has continued to assist the Town of Middletown and the Senior Center in making sure the plants in the rain garden are healthy and free of invasive weeds. Also, the rain garden was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 3 and Low Impact Development Center as a winner of the 2007 Leadership in Low Impact Development Recognition Program Award for outstanding achievement in Educational Programs. Currently, the rain garden is in full bloom but don’t take our word for it, local residents can take a peek at the rain garden for themselves!
Backyard Habitats
It has always been the goal of the ARA to show residents of the watershed that making a difference can start in your own backyard, literally. By making the connection between home and garden practices and water quality, residents can understand their impact on local waterways and habitat. Thus, the ARA with the help of the Delaware Nature Society recruited forty interested watershed households to take part in the Backyard Habitats program. Participation in this program certified participants’ properties as “wildlife habitats,” meaning they provide food, water, cover and places to raise young for wildlife. Not only does participating in this program help local water quality, but it also adds to the landscaping and curb appeal of your home.
Open Space Reforestation
Because much of the developed areas of watershed are devoid of trees, the Appoquinimink River Association has worked with communities throughout the watershed to reforest their open spaces. Two of these communities were Odessa Chase and Cantwell Ridge. With the help of 90 volunteers, we planted more than 4,000 tree seedlings on five acres in Cantwell Ridge and 145 larger trees on six acres in Cantwell Ridge and one acre in Odessa Chase. Not only will these trees make our communities look great, but they will also help in reducing water runoff from our roads and sidewalks.
Education
Education is the heart of the Appoquinimink River Association. We do our best to make changes and achieve our mission by educating others through the projects that we implement. We do this in the hope that others will learn how simple it is to reduce water pollution. The ARA has also made many presentations to school students, civic associations, and homeowner associations about the importance of a healthy watershed. We have estimated that we have presented to over 500 hundred children in the watershed. If you are a teacher or member of a group who is interested in having the Appoquinimink River Association do a presentation for you, please let us know.
Riparian Buffers
With the aid of grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and DNREC’s Coastal Program, the ARA worked to enhance or re-establish vegetated stream buffers, called riparian buffers, throughout the watershed. The ARA worked with interested homeowners and St. Andrew’s School to re-vegetate the riparian lands on their properties. Close to 3,500 trees and other plants have been planted and 14 acres have been re-vegetated! In addition and equally important, the ARA worked with the Town of Middletown to create a riparian buffer ordinance that protects these areas from future changes and development.
Gardening For The Environment
One of our most recent and most popular projects is the work that we have done with rain barrels. Partnering with the Delaware Nature Society, the ARA strove to educate residents about how simple things you do in your backyard can help our waterways. One of those simple things homeowners can do is construct their own rain barrel. So, through interactive workshops we provided local residents with the knowledge and the guidance to make a rain barrel using a trash can and a few simple parts from your local home and garden store. The ARA also made a convenient and easy to follow brochure about constructing your own rain barrel that can be downloaded at www.appo river.org.
The next five years
The ARA is grateful to have had an exciting, successful journey the past five years. To celebrate, the ARA will be holding a “Birthday Party” on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School, Amos Hall. There will be refreshments, games, and fun for everyone! We will also take a fun look back at our beginnings and discussing our goals for the next five years. The past five years have been so successful because of all the help we have received from residents, so let’s make the next five even more successful. Come out and tell us what you’re looking for in the next five years.
Many of today’s water quality problems are caused by human activities on the land. By becoming aware of how our actions affect the environment, we can reduce pollution! For more ways you can get involved with the Appoquinimink River Association’s mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the rivers and related natural resources of the Appoquinimink region, call Sara Wozniak at (302) 382-0335 or email her at info@apporiver.org.
Middletown, Del. —
