Revision as of 00:30, 20 April 2011

Indicator Type	Information	Status
Beach Access	7	7
Water Quality	8	9
Beach Erosion	7	-
Erosion Response	-	5
Beach Fill	7	-
Shoreline Structures	6	3
Beach Ecology	6	-
Surfing Areas	4	5
Website	7	-
Coastal Development	{{{19}}}	{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise	{{{21}}}	{{{22}}}

Water Quality Monitoring Program

BEACH Act
The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) signed into law on October 10, 2000, amends the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), incorporating provisions intended to reduce the risk of illness to users of the Nation's recreational waters. The BEACH Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award program development and implementation grants to eligible States, Territories, Tribes, and local governments to support microbiological testing and monitoring of coastal recreation waters, including the Great Lakes, that are adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. BEACH Act grants also provide support for development and implementation of programs to notify the public of the potential exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in coastal recreation waters. EPA encourages coastal States and Territories to apply for BEACH Act Grants for Program Implementation (referred to as Implementation Grants) to implement effective and comprehensive coastal recreation water monitoring and public notification programs. CWA section 406(i) authorizes appropriations of up to $30 million per year to develop and implement beach programs. Unfortunately, only about one-third that amount has been authorized each year since the program's inception. In recent years, the total funding available for BEACH Act grants has been about $9.5 million. Funding beyond 2012 has been in jeopardy, since EPA's budget requests for this program in FY2013 and FY2014 were ZERO (money for testing in 2013 and 2014 was ultimately allocated as part of Continuing Resolutions to resolve the Federal Budget impasse) and there was also no money for beach testing in the FY2015 budget. Again, it was restored at the last minute as part of a Continuing Resolution. It is very discouraging to have to fight for this basic funding to protect the public's health at the beach every year. Thankfully, there is a growing movement to provide stable funding. Unfortunately, in 2017 the situation is even more dire. If available, funds are allocated to the states and territories based on a formula which uses three factors that are readily available and verifiable: (1) Length of beach season, (2) miles of beach and (3) number of people that use the beaches. Delaware was eligible for a $201,000 grant in fiscal year 2016. The full cost of Delaware’s coastal beach monitoring and notification program is approximately double the amount of the BEACH Act grant.

Portions of the following discussion were taken from NRDC's report Testing the Waters, A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, July 2010.

Delaware has about 25 miles of Delaware Bay coastline, 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, and 115 miles of inland bay shoreline. All three of the state’s counties (Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex) have coastline.

The state’s marine beachwater monitoring program is administered by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). The DNREC conducts monitoring activities and issues swimming advisories to local recreational water area administrators so they can regulate access to swimming waters. The local administrators always follow state recommendations. Delaware also monitors freshwater beaches; this summary only includes information about the state’s coastal monitoring.

Monitoring

Sampling Practices: In 2009, the monitoring season extended from May 11 to September 30, two weeks longer than the 2008 monitoring season. DNREC hopes to extend the 2010 bacterial monitoring season into October. In 2009, the program continued to sample seven ocean sites in the offseason in conjunction with the Delaware Surfrider Chapter and the University of Delaware. The state’s Floatables and Debris Program has a vessel in the water year-round to monitor oil spills, harmful algae blooms, sewage treatment discharges, nutrient runoff, and industrial discharges.

The DNREC determines sampling practices, locations, standards, and notification protocols and procedures throughout the state. Samples are taken in knee-deep water. Marine beaches with lifeguards are monitored twice a week.

Once an advisory or closing is issued, re-sampling to confirm the exceedance is conducted immediately and the beach is monitored more frequently until the advisory can be lifted. States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is found will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/ advisory days than they would have had if their sampling frequency did not increase after an exceedance was found.

Delaware’s Recreational Water Program has initiated a beach shoreline survey program to identify existing sources of pollution. Sanitary surveys of shorelines and marinas adjacent to recreational beaches are conducted in order to identify existing and potential sources of pollution.

Closings and Advisories

Standards and Procedures: Delaware standards for beachwater quality are an enterococcus single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml and a geometric mean of 35 cfu/100 ml. DNA analyses to track the source of bacteria at Slaughter Beach and Prime Hook Beach have shown that nonhuman sources contribute to indicator bacteria counts at these beaches. Monitoring results at these beaches are adjusted downward to account for nonhuman sources at these beaches before the water quality standard is applied. (Monitoring data are reported before this adjustment is made.) For Slaughter Beach, the correction factor is 0.49 multiplied by the raw count. This was calculated based on a microbial source tracking study at this beach, which found that 77% of fecal bacteria came from wildlife sources, with a 26% margin of error. At Prime Hook, microbial source tracking found that 70% of fecal bacteria came from wildlife, with a 24% margin of error, resulting in a correction factor of 0.54 for this beach.

State policy is to issue advisories when fecal bacteria counts exceed either the single-sample or geometric mean standard. There are limited overriding factors, such as leaking sampling containers or excessive sediment in samples, which can be taken into account before issuing an advisory when a sample exceeds standards, but these are rare exceptions. Circumstances that would suggest an imminent health threat result in a closing rather than an advisory.

Delaware has a standard for issuing preemptive rainfall advisories. For marine waters, the DNREC has determined that 3.5 inches of rainfall within 24 hours or 3 inches within 12 hours may trigger a closing. Preemptive closings are issued in the case of a known sewage spill.

The Recreational Water Program has been providing support and funding for research into analysis of marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like bacteria, including Heliobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni. The goal is to be able to quickly identify harmful bacteria and improve the safety of recreational waters. The program plans to provide support for research to test marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like Epsilonproteobacteria, which are associated with human gastric disease and gastroenteritis. Results will be compared with standard methods for indicators of fecal contamination.

The Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation has used the same testing procedure that DNREC uses to test marine waters for enterococcus bacteria at selected beaches. Surfrider Foundation, with supplemental funding from DNREC and the University of Delaware, implements this volunteer water quality testing through its Blue Water Task Force program.

Sampling by the Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation and sample analysis by the Center for Marine Sciences at the Wilmington Campus of the University of North Carolina in August 2000 revealed the presence of a toxic microorganism called Chatanella verruculosa in Bald Eagle Creek next to Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club. This bacteria may have been responsible for a massive fish kill at this location and in Delaware's inland bay during summer 2000.^[1]

Another water quality and human health concern is Pfiesteria piscicida, which is a dinoflagellate, a microscopic organism that sometimes behaves like a plant and sometimes like an animal, with at least two dozen life stages. Pfiesteria piscicida was identified in a fish kill at Arnell Creek in July 2000 and has been found as far north as Indian River. Nutrients from wastewater treatment plants, chicken farms, runoff from developed areas, lawns, golf courses, and failing septic tanks all can contribute to algae blooms and Pfiesteria piscicida.^[2]

The DNREC samples water and/or shellfish for harmful algal bloom species and toxins and issues swimming advisories at freshwater beaches because of harmful algal blooms. The state discovered its first known occurrence of a Karenia brevis bloom during routine beach observations in late August of 2007. The toxins produced by this species of harmful algae can aerosolize and cause respiratory symptoms. Because of the 2007 K. brevis bloom, Delaware enhanced its surveillance analysis, response, and public notification capability for marine toxins and harmful algal blooms in 2008. The DNREC’s Comprehensive Algal Bloom Monitoring Program was implemented in cooperation with the University of Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service. This included follow-up monitoring of harmful algal blooms at the Indian River Inlet, a beach site that is used by surfers. The recreational water program also provided funding for university research into identifying harmful algal bloom species. More info.

The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware reported in March 2008 that scientists from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington had verified cells of Karenia brevis in water samples taken from near Rehoboth Bay. “The farthest north Karenia brevis has ever been reported previously is North Carolina,” said Dr. Patricia A. Tester, branch chief in the Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research at NOAA-National Ocean Service.

DNREC monitors all 25 miles of open ocean coast, plus 25 miles of bay coastline, from Cape Henlopen north to Slaughter Beach. Open ocean beaches that are routinely monitored are:

Cape Henlopen State Park
Beach near Gordon's Pond
Rehoboth Beach — Virginia Avenue
Rehoboth Beach — Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach — Queen Street
Dewey Beach
Tower Road — Ocean Beach
North Indian River Inlet Beach (Surfing Beach)
South Indian River Inlet Beach
Bethany Beach
South Bethany Beach
Fenwick Island State Park Beach
Delaware/Maryland Line Beach

See a map with the current list of monitored beaches here. Click on the map to get information regarding each beach.

Delaware was the first state in the nation with rainfall advisory standards. Rainfall-based advisories are issued based on a regression analysis.

According to DNREC staff, water quality data area stored in print and electronic form in the DNREC, Division of Water Resources, Watershed Assessment Section, Office of Shellfish and Recreational Water. The data is made available via an annual "Delaware Recreational Water Program Year-end Report" for the beach sampling season. The reports are available by emailing Debbie Rouse of DNREC at debbie.rouse@state.de.us or calling (302) 739-9939.

In addition, each week's data are available online. You can even get on the State's Beach Monitoring list by emailing join-dnrec_beach_monitoring@lists.state.de.us and get advisories via email.

The DNREC also provides an advisory information line during the summer at 1-800-922-WAVE.

Water Quality Contact

Kathy Bunting-Howarth, Director of Water Resources
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Debbie Rouse
Environmental Scientist
Recreational Water Program
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
820 Silver Lake Plaza – Suite 220
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-739-9939
Beach Hotline: 1-800-922-WAVE
Email: Debbie.Rouse@state.de.us

Michael Bott
Environmental Scientist
Recreational Water Program
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
820 Silver Lake Plaza – Suite 220
Dover, DE 19904
Email: Michael.Bott@state.de.us

Beach Closures

NRDC reported:

Because of concerns about water quality, there is a permanent caution regarding swimming in Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and Little Assawoman Bay. This permanent advisory includes Tower Road Bayside in Rehoboth Bay and Holts Landing Beach in Indian River Bay. Contaminants in these bays come from many sources in the watershed, including failing septic systems, farm and lawn fertilizers, and runoff from poultry operations. In addition, the sewage treatment plants in Lewes and Rehoboth discharge treated effluent into the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, which feeds into the bays. Poor flushing of the shallow waters in these bays allows pollutants to linger; it takes 120 days for water to move out of the inland bays. Signs are posted at popular access points around Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and Little Assawoman Bay to warn potential swimmers of the risks associated with swimming in these bodies of water, particularly after a heavy rain.

Total closing/advisory days for 16 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased more than 8-fold higher in 2009 than in 2008, increasing to 94 days in 2009 from 11 days in 2008, 10 days in 2007, 0 days in 2006, and 0 days in 2005. In addition, there were no extended events and 2 permanent events (730 days) in both 2009 and 2008. Extended events are those in effect more than 6, but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Beach Closure Data

Year	Temporary	Extended
2009	94	0
2008	11	0
2007	10	0
2006	0	2
2005	0	0
2004	19	0
2003	60	0
2002	33	0
2001	19	0
2000	5	0
1999	5	0
1998	14	2
1997	0	2
1996	16	0
1995	0	0
1994	0	0
1993	0	0
1992	5	0
1991	11	0

Sources: NRDC, 2010

In May 2010, U.S. EPA released its latest data about beach closings and advisories for the 2009 swimming season. Note that for some states the data is incomplete, making state-to-state or year-to-year comparisons difficult.

NRDC reported:

In 2009, Delaware reported 25 coastal beaches, all in Sussex County and all monitored once a week. For the fifth consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance rates, including duplicate samples and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 2% of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2009 were Delaware Seashore State Park, Tower Road Bayside (17%), Slaughter Beach (8%), Broadkill Beach (8%), and Prime Hook Beach (7%).

Comparing percent exceedance rates with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 19 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding the standard increased to 2% in 2009 from 1% in 2008 and 2007 and 3% in 2006.

The University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment has conducted research at areas (such as the Inland Bays) that have chronic postings.

DNREC keeps historical records (since 1989) and identifies areas with chronic posting or closures. This information is available to the public. According to DNREC, these closures include closure dates for pond, lake and bay beaches as well as ocean beaches. Most beach closures affect inland bodies of water (ponds and lakes) and not ocean beaches.^[3]

The EPA has info on water quality in Delaware, including a fact sheet, which notes that bacteria are the most widespread contaminant in Delaware's surface waters, but nutrients and toxics pose the most serious threats to aquatic life and human health.

Another EPA water quality website with information on Delaware is Mid-Atlantic Coastal Environment.

The United States Geological Survey maintains a website, USGS Water Resources of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. This site is a valuable source of information including current projects, online reports, publications, and maps, real-time water conditions and educational outreach material for teachers and students:

Delaware Sea Grant also has some information on ocean water quality.

Storm Drains and Sewage Outfalls

DNREC staff reports that a single sewage treatment plant (STP) outfall exists along the Delaware Atlantic Ocean coast. South Coastal STP discharges approximately 5 million gallons of effluent per day 1.2 miles (6,670 feet) off of South Bethany in about 60 feet of water. The outfall location is 38° 31' 34" N, 75° 01' 56" W.

There is a proposal to pump up to 3.4 million gallons per day of treated sewage from Rehoboth Beach through a 6,000-foot outfall pipe into the Atlantic Ocean (38º 43.76’ N, 075º 03.42’ W) to eliminate discharges and associated water quality problems in the Inland Bays. Members of the Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation have opposed this plan, concerned that the ocean water quality would suffer. Instead, the chapter supports land application of the treated wastewater and increased use of reclaimed water for irrigation as a way of lessening the sewer discharge to the ocean and also to conserve fresh water supplies during times of drought. There is a substantial amount of technical information on this issue (reports, cost estimates, presentations) on the City of Rehoboth Beach Website.

In nearby Maryland, Ocean City's wastewater treatment plant also uses an ocean outfall. The Ocean City outfall system includes an outfall pumping station located at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, approximately 700 feet of ductile iron pipe from the Wastewater Treatment Plant to the beach area, an air release valve vault just short of the beach and 4,600 feet of pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe discharging to a diffuser section which is in water approximately 30 feet deep. The 1,000 foot long diffuser section has 50 4-inch risers which extend approximately 7 feet above the center line of the pipe, ending in 4 inch by 4 inch tees that are intended to discharge effluent parallel to the beach. The effluent is diluted to 1 part effluent to 200 parts water.

Information on the location or number of storm drains in Delaware was not found. However, DNREC staff reports that storm drains are mapped, and this inventory is updated regularly. The data are kept by the DNREC Division of Water Resources and are available online and in published form.

Storm drains are permanently posted if they are part of a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system. This only occurs at two locations — Wilmington (80 miles from the beach) and Seaford/Blades (30 miles from the beach in the Chesapeake watershed).

According to NRDC's 2004 Testing the Waters report, Rehoboth Beach is affected by rainfall due to the presence of stormwater outfall pipes on the beach.

An article in the Delaware NewsJournal by Jeff Montgomery and Molly Murray on November 7, 2004 noted the following:

About 80,000 cesspools, seepage pits and septic systems operate near homes and businesses around the state. In towns such as Harrington, Milton, Bridgeville, Seaford, Mills borough and Rehoboth Beach, treated sewage continues to flow into the rivers and canals despite federal mandates that the practice eventually be stopped. In Wilmington, sewage and runoff during rainstorms combine to overload the state's largest treatment plant, which relies on an antiquated system that collects both sewage and stormwater. Even after light rains, the surge overwhelms the pipes, some of which are wooden, and unreated waste goes directly into the Christina River and the Brandywine.

The following report, published in August 2003, is the 8th annual report identifying funding needs for wastewater system improvements and expansions. The conclusions of the report are:

$256.5 million in future projects need funding through 2009
Available sources of grant funds are insufficient to offset the high costs of new sewer projects or to enhance existing wastewater treatment facilities to meet new water quality standards
$124 million is needed for additional loans and grants to make the projects affordable to moderate and low income users

Wastewater Facilities Advisory Council - 2003 - Long-Term Wastewater Facilities Funding Plan FY 2004- FY 2009

Coastal Nonpoint Program: The Coastal Nonpoint Program was developed in accordance with Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990. Here is a link to the 2007 Annual Report.

The coastal resources of Delaware are of significant value. Nonpoint sources (NPS) have been identified as significant contributors to water quality pollution. The Delaware Coastal Programs (DCP), in cooperation with the Delaware Nonpoint Source Program and other programs within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) are committed to controlling NPS pollution in our waters.

Water Quality Contact (Runoff and Outfalls)

Kathy Bunting-Howarth, Director of Water Resources
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Debbie Rouse
Environmental Scientist
Recreational Water Program
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
820 Silver Lake Plaza – Suite 220
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-739-9939
Beach Hotline: 1-800-922-WAVE
Email: Debbie.Rouse@state.de.us

Michael Bott
Environmental Scientist
Recreational Water Program
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
820 Silver Lake Plaza – Suite 220
Dover, DE 19904
Email: Michael.Bott@state.de.us

Bonnie Willis
Delaware Coastal Programs
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-9283
Email: Bonnie.Willis@state.de.us

Delaware NPS Program Staff

Program Manager - Robert Palmer
Email: Robert.Palmer@state.de.us
Planner - Mark Hogan
Email: Mark.Hogan@state.de.us
Environmental Scientist - Jennifer Nelson
Email: Jennifer.Nelson@state.de.us
Environmental Scientist - Sharon Webb
Email: Sharon.Webb@state.de.us

Perception of Causes

NRDC reported:

Causes of Closings and Advisories: All closing and advisory days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels.

Reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 98% (92) of closing and advisory days in 2009 were from stormwater runoff, and 2% (2) were from unknown sources of contamination.

The DNREC suspects that contamination at inland bays is likely a combination of poor tidal exchange, natural sources of bacteria, and runoff from a watershed with a surface area 10 times greater than the inland bays; the agency is starting DNA work to document bacterial sources.

DNREC indicates the main causes of ocean water quality problems in Delaware are rainfall/runoff and "ubiquitous bacteria/re-suspension of substrate. Primarily wind driven." The greatest regional threats to ocean water quality are considered by DNREC staff to be outdated or undersized treatment facilities, excess nutrients, point source pollution (Inland/Coastal Bays), Non-point source pollution and exponential population growth.

The state’s monitoring data is used to determine which watersheds should be assessed for placement of nutrient/bacteria buffers that reduce the introduction of pollutants. These buffers consist of setbacks or vegetation that reduce the amount of nutrients and bacteria that get carried to surface waters in runoff.

According to Delaware’s 2004 combined 305(b) and 303(d) report, 94 percent of assessed river miles and 68 percent of assessed lake acres do not meet criteria for primary contact recreation, such as swimming, bathing, or water skiing. Forty-one percent (12 square miles) of assessed estuaries fully support primary-contact recreation, 44 percent (13) partially support, and 15 percent (4.5) do not support primary-contact recreation. Of the 25 miles of coastal waters assessed, 100 percent fully support primary-contact recreation. Of the 2,509 river miles assessed, 94 percent (approximately 2,360 miles) do not meet criteria for primary contact recreation. The report, however, also states that 99 percent of the assessed river miles contain indicator bacteria—enterococcus and coliform—above levels considered to be acceptable for primary-contact recreation. The report does not explain the discrepancy between the two percentages. River contamination largely stems from unidentified diffuse, nonpoint source pollution. Delaware assessed 2,954 lake acres in 2004. Sixty-eight percent of lake acres do not meet criteria for primary-contact recreation. Similar to rivers and streams, a greater portion of lake acres (87 percent) contain indicator bacteria above levels considered acceptable for primarycontact recreation. Some areas with high indicator bacteria may be monitored for other uses than just primary-contact recreation. Again, pathogenic indicators (bacteria), nutrients, and toxic chemicals are the leading causes of contamination. Agricultural runoff, unidentified nonpoint sources, urban runoff, and municipal and industrial point sources are the primary sources of nutrients and toxics.

Public Education

According to DNREC, the state uses books, brochures, their website, signs, and maps to educate the public about water quality issues and water quality improvements.

Information on non-point source pollution and pollution prevention is available on DNREC's website at:
Delaware's Sediment and Stormwater Program
and
Drainage and Water Management Brochure
and
Pollution Prevention Begins With You!

Delaware has several programs that promote public participation in water quality improvements: Coast Day, Adopt-a-Beach, an annual coastal cleanup event, and Beach Grass Planting.

Clean Marinas

The Delaware Clean Marina Program, launched in June 2003, is a partnership between DNREC, the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies and the BoatU.S. Foundation. The program aims to reduce damage to the environment caused by marina and boating activity.

The Clean Marina Advisory Committee -- made up of members from DNREC, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, UD Sea Grant and the BoatU.S. Foundation -- offers technical assistance and referrals to help increase compliance and participation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have provided technical assistance. The Center for the Inland Bays has provided grant funding for the program.

Participating marinas that want to ensure they are ecologically responsible can sign a pledge to follow existing laws and institute recommended practices. After a compliance and upgrade period, marinas can seek certification, which allows the marinas to fly the Clean Marina flag and use the logo on all promotional material. It also entitles them to be included in promotional and outreach efforts by DNREC.

Educating marina users and members is the responsibility of the marina operators. Easy-to-read signs and informative displays do part of the work. In addition, operators can write certain requirements into slip lease agreements that hold boaters to Clean Marina standards.

General Reference Documents

EPA has compiled several NPS (Nonpoint Source) Outreach Products that are a selection of television, radio, and print products on nonpoint source pollution that have been developed by various agencies and organizations around the country. They are good examples of outreach in the mass media. Also see What You Can Do.

NOAA, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, International City/County Management Association and Rhode Island Sea Grant, has released an interagency guide that adapts smart growth principles to the unique needs of coastal and waterfront communities. Smart Growth for Coastal and Waterfront Communities builds on existing smart growth principles to offer 10 coastal and waterfront-specific guidelines that help manage development while balancing environmental, economic, and quality of life issues.

Footnotes

↑ Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter website: http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/
↑ Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter website: http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/
↑ Susan Love, Resource Planner, Delaware Coastal Management Program, written communication. February 14, 2001.

State of the Beach Report: Delaware

[1] Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter website: http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/

[2] Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter website: http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/

[3] Susan Love, Resource Planner, Delaware Coastal Management Program, written communication. February 14, 2001.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 The Recreational Water Program has been providing support and funding for research into analysis of marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like bacteria, including ''Heliobacter pylori'' and ''Campylobacter jejuni''. The goal is to be able to quickly identify harmful bacteria and improve the safety of recreational waters. The program plans to provide support for research to test marine and inland bay waters for the presence of pathogenic and pathogen-like ''Epsilonproteobacteria'', which are associated with human gastric disease and gastroenteritis. Results will be compared with standard methods for indicators of fecal contamination.
-The [http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/ Delaware Chapter] of Surfrider Foundation has used the same testing procedure that DNREC uses to test marine waters for ''enterococcus'' bacteria at selected beaches. Surfrider Foundation, with supplemental funding from DNREC and the University of Delaware, implements this volunteer water quality testing through its [http://www.surfrider.org/whatwedo3c.asp Blue Water Task Force] program.
+The [http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/ Delaware Chapter] of Surfrider Foundation has used the same testing procedure that DNREC uses to test marine waters for ''enterococcus'' bacteria at selected beaches. Surfrider Foundation, with supplemental funding from DNREC and the University of Delaware, implements this volunteer water quality testing through its [http://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force Blue Water Task Force] program.
 Sampling by the Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation and sample analysis by the Center for Marine Sciences at the Wilmington Campus of the University of North Carolina in August 2000 revealed the presence of a toxic microorganism called Chatanella verruculosa in Bald Eagle Creek next to Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club. This bacteria may have been responsible for a massive fish kill at this location and in Delaware's inland bay during summer 2000.<ref>Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter website: http://www.surfrider.org/delaware/ </ref>

Difference between revisions of "State of the Beach/State Reports/DE/Water Quality"

From Beachapedia

Revision as of 00:30, 20 April 2011

Water Quality Monitoring Program

Monitoring

Closings and Advisories

Water Quality Contact

Beach Closures

Beach Closure Data

Storm Drains and Sewage Outfalls

Water Quality Contact (Runoff and Outfalls)

Delaware NPS Program Staff

Perception of Causes

Public Education

Clean Marinas

General Reference Documents

Footnotes