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 April marks Earth Month in Delaware, and across the state, the work of protecting natural resources is already well underway. Crews are preparing waterways and habitats for the busy months ahead, educators are connecting students with the outdoors and communities are gearing up for spring events and projects.
While April gives us a moment to focus on the environment, the work continues year-round. At DNREC, every day is Earth Day and every month is Earth Month.
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K-9 Officers: Delaware Natural Resources Police’s Superpower
They help find missing persons, sniff out poaching and subdue criminal suspects. And they do it all for the love of the job — well, and squeaky toys. These are the canine members of Delaware Natural Resources Police within the DNREC, and they play important roles in keeping our outdoors safe and accessible. Read more
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The Underwater Forests You’ve Never Noticed
We see dozens if not hundreds of different plant species every day, from towering trees to colorful flowers to sturdy shrubs. But how often do we consider underwater plants and the niches they occupy? While it can be easy to overlook submerged aquatic vegetation, one shouldn’t ignore these grasses. Read more
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Celebrate 2026 Earth Day with Hikes and Volunteer Events at Delaware State Parks
Celebrate Earth Day at Delaware State Park in April with hikes, cleanups, tree plantings and other programs. Read more
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DNREC-Sponsored Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale to be Held on Saturday, May 2
Delaware DNREC and the Center for the Inland Bays host the Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale, a family-friendly and free admission event at James Farm Ecological Preserve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2. Read more
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DNREC to Hold Training at Cape Henlopen for Volunteer Beach-Nesting Bird Monitors Saturday, May 2
DNREC is seeking volunteers to help protect Delaware’s beach-nesting birds. Anyone interested in becoming a beach-nesting bird monitor is invited to attend a training session held by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 2, at the Officers Club in Cape Henlopen State Park located at Queens Road, Lewes. Read more
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DNREC Announces Two New Superintendents for Delaware State Parks
DNREC named two new superintendents at Delaware State Parks, including Sean Cain at Cape Henlopen State Park and Jackie Kook at Alapocas/Wilmington State Parks. Read more
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Delaware’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan Gets U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Approval
DNREC has announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given formal approval to Delaware’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP) for guiding conservation efforts for the state’s wildlife and their habitats through 2035. Read more
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DNREC to Conduct Statewide Assessment of Wastewater Infrastructure in Manufactured Home Communities
DNREC has begun a statewide assessment of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure conditions in Delaware’s manufactured home communities (MHCs), aiming to assist them with wastewater and water challenges that have arisen through no fault of residents. Many MHCs are located in underserved communities with systems believed to be outdated, poorly maintained or in various stages of disrepair. Read more
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Delaware Releases Strategic Framework for Contaminants of Emerging Concern and First PFAS Implementation Plan
Delaware DNREC, in conjunction with the Division of Public Health within the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS-DPH) and the Department of Agriculture (DDA), announced the release of the 2026 Strategic Framework for Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and the 2026 PFAS Implementation Plan. Together, the two documents establish a coordinated, science-based approach to identifying, assessing and reducing risks from a broad class of chemicals that threaten Delaware’s environment, drinking water, food supply and public health. Read more
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Turkey Hunting Season to Offer an Extra Day; Season Opened April 4 and 5 with Youth and Non-Ambulatory Hunts
Delaware’s spring turkey hunting season will run from April 10 through May 11 this year. Hunters who have a permit for Segment D will get an additional day (Sunday, May 11) to hunt this season following a recent regulatory change to turkey season dates. Read more
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H.B. du Pont Middle School Students Crowned 2026 Solar Racer Champions
A team of students from Henry B. du Pont in Hockessin win first place in the 2026 Solar Racer event held on the campus of University of Delaware in Newark. Read more
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Take A Kid Fishing! Program Returned for Special Spring Break Dates
DNREC offered youth fishing opportunities in each county in early April commemorating and celebrating Earth Month. The angling outings were put on by educators from DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center through the Take A Kid Fishing! program. Read more
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DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center Reopened April 1
The DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve welcomed visitors for the 2026 season when it reopened Wednesday, April 1. The DNREC facility, managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays in April, adding Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from May through August. Read more
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Take a rare behind-the-scenes look at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Nature Center with Richard Julian, an interpretive programs manager for DNREC.
Richard oversees environmental education programs, school visits and public programming — all while running the nature center, home to five massive 1,000-gallon aquariums filled with fish from Delaware Bay. Visitors can explore touch tanks, meet turtles like Boxy and even learn about horseshoe crabs up close.
In this video, Richard shares his career journey — from studying ecology to working with cranes in Wisconsin and eventually finding his home at Cape Henlopen State Park. For Richard, the job is about more than science: it’s about connecting people to Delaware’s natural resources through curiosity, education and fun.
Like, comment and subscribe! 🔔
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Trap Pond Nature Festival
April 18, 11 a.m.
Baldcypress Nature Center
33587 Bald Cypress Lane, Laurel
More Info
Basic Hunter Education Field Day
April 19, 8 a.m.
(Preregistration Required)
Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center
3018 Bayside Drive, Dover
More Info
SAV Seekers Training
April 22, 8:30 a.m.
(Preregistration Required)
Abbots Mill Nature Center
15411 Abbotts Pond Road, Milford
More Info
A New Kind of Seasickness: Marine Debris
April 22, 2 p.m.
DuPont Nature Center
2992 Lighthouse Road, Milford
More Info
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Beachcombing with DuPont Nature Center Naturalists
April 24, 3 p.m.
Slaughter Beach Pavilion
359 Bay Ave., Milford
More Info
Boating Safety Class
April 25, 8 a.m.
(Preregistration Required)
West Bay Park Community Center
23719 Bayview Drive, Lewes
More Info
Living Shorelines 101: A Green Way to Protect Your Property
April 28, 2 p.m.
(Preregistration Required)
South Coastal Library
43 Kent Ave., Bethany Beach
More Info
Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale
May 2, 10 a.m.
James Farm Ecological Preserve
30048 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View
More Info
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Making Waves at the Sand Bypass
 DNREC joined U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride on April 2 at the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System to highlight how federal investment supports the continued operation of this critical coastal infrastructure.
Following a multi-year effort to upgrade the facility — including conversion to electric power and installation of new pumps — the system is now fully operational and resumed operations earlier this year. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DNREC, the system moves sand from the south side of the inlet to the north to help maintain beaches and navigability, strengthen storm resilience and protect vital transportation routes, including Coastal Highway and the Charles W. Cullen Bridge.
For additional details about the visit read Congresswoman McBride’s full news release.
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 Secretary Greg Patterson has continued Field Trip Friday visits highlighting seasonal work, community programs and the staff who help protect Delaware’s natural resources.
One recent visit took Secretary Patterson to Chorman Airport, just south of Farmington, where he observed early-season mosquito control preparations. Crews from the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Mosquito Control Section treat woodland pools during a short window each spring, helping reduce mosquito populations later in the season.
Another Field Trip Friday focused on Delaware’s At-Store Recycling Program during a visit to a participating grocery store. The visit highlighted the importance of returning plastic bags and wrap to designated drop-off bins to protect recycling equipment and keep Delaware’s recycling system running efficiently.
Most recently, Secretary Patterson joined staff from the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation at Brandywine Park to celebrate one of Wilmington’s best-known spring traditions — the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Park staff continue to preserve these historic trees, some dating back nearly a century, ensuring this seasonal highlight can be enjoyed for years to come.
Want to explore with us? Check out our #FieldTripFriday playlist and follow us on social!
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Digital DNREC E-Permitting
Use the Digital DNREC ePermitting system for recreational fishing and hunting licenses, license exempt numbers, deer harvest report cards and tags, deer damage assistance, hunter education, waterfowl stamps, permits, Conservation Access Passes and harvest reporting.
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DNREC Language Services
We provide free interpretation services upon request to help ensure full participation by all communities, primarily those with limited English proficiency.
Requests for oral interpretation of an application or assistance with submitting a public comment must be made no later than 10 days prior to the close of that application’s comment period. Requests for live oral interpretation must be made no later than 10 days prior to date of the DNREC-hosted public hearing, meeting or community event.
Submit a request using the interpretation services request form: de.gov/dnrectranslations.
Learn more at de.gov/titlevi.
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Mollie Yacano joined the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in April 2023 and serves as an environmental scientist research coordinator with DNREC Coastal Programs.
In this role, Mollie works across the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) and the Delaware Coastal Management Program, overseeing applied science research and monitoring projects that help track the health of Delaware’s coastal ecosystems. These projects include monitoring water quality, horseshoe crabs, marsh birds, marsh vegetation and marsh elevation, along with other research focused on understanding and protecting the state’s coastal resources. She also coordinates with external researchers, represents the programs on regional and national workgroups and collaborates with the nationwide network of National Estuarine Research Reserve research coordinators.
Before joining DNREC, Mollie completed a Ph.D. in marine science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, based at UNC’s Institute of Marine Science in Morehead City. Her connection to the National Estuarine Research Reserve system began earlier conducting undergraduate research at the Waquoit Bay NERR in Massachusetts and serving as a graduate research fellow with the North Carolina NERR.
“I love having the opportunity to do science that has tangible impacts on Delawareans, and I’m fortunate to get to work with some really awesome folks in the process,” Mollie said.
During her time at DNREC, Mollie is especially proud of having played a role in developing the 2025 Climate Action Plan and of helping the next generation of scientists build their skills and confidence by mentoring students through the DNREC internship program.
Originally from Virginia, Mollie lived up and down the East Coast, including time in New York, Boston and North Carolina, before settling in Delaware. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the state with her fiancée, Danielle, and their two dogs, as well as gardening and working on DIY needlepoint projects for their upcoming wedding.
Thank you, Mollie, for your dedication and contributions to DNREC and Delaware’s coastal communities.
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