The beach towns of Sussex County, Delaware, have long been a popular tourist destination for a variety of reasons. This includes beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches and inland bays that provide recreation and scenery, entertainment, and plenty of outlet shopping. Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in permanent residents moving to the area. This shift has created a huge increase in both commercial and residential development.

According to census data, Sussex County has seen a 20% increase in population from 197,145 to 237,378 between 2010 and 2020. This growth rate is more than double the growth rate of the US population and almost double the 10.2% growth rate for Delaware during this time. To accommodate this rate of growth, Sussex County has seen a 43,000-acre decrease in forested lands due to development since 1998, according to the Delaware Forest Service. The loss of these forested lands creates pressure on water quality for the Delaware Inland Bays and the Chesapeake Bay. It also represents a loss of critical wildlife habitat, further fragmenting a once heavily forested coastal plain.

Both commercial and residential developments are designed with stormwater management in mind, particularly focused on water quantity and less on water quality. There are opportunities to manage open spaces and stormwater management areas to help recreate some of the ecosystem services lost by the destruction of Delaware's forested lands. Education and outreach are important tools to help homeowner's associations (HOAs) and land managers learn about these opportunities and then implement them on the ground.

RESPONSE

The Sussex Conservation District led the Stormwater Workshop series in partnership with the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. The series targeted small landowners, HOAs, non-profits, and government agencies. The topics ranged from Stormwater 101 to invasive species management to Urban and Community Forestry. The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension attended the sessions to provide technical assistance and also presented on Right of Way Invasive Species Management.

The series was well attended, both in person and virtually. There were more than 30 attendees from Sussex County in all three sessions. There is a lot of development occurring in eastern Sussex County, and this series is a very important way for those living in these developments to learn about the proper management of open space/stormwater areas and the resources available to them.

Across all three events, there were 22 homeowners, 25 HOA representatives, eight government employees, and two non-profit employees who attended. Additionally, there were 20 developments represented across Sussex County.

RESULTS

The goal of these workshops is to help create a more informed group of HOAs and land managers. When evaluating the program, we asked attendees about the knowledge they gained from each topic and also asked for ways they plan to use the information. Most of the responses were geared toward educating others in their communities and working more closely with their property management companies.

Some of the ways the attendees plan to use their knowledge gained during these events are:

"Phragmites removal is necessary, hope to add more appropriate plantings adjacent to ditches."
"Encourage my HOA to become educated on designer ditches and tax ditches instead of only relying on issue as presented by property management company. All landowners, even those in developments, have a responsibility to assist in all aspects of good property and land management."
"Educate homeowners on the maintenance requirements of the stormwater management ponds."

RECOGNITION

The Sussex Conservation District led the coordination effort and delivery of the program. The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, Delaware Forest Service, and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension provided technical assistance to attendees and provided presentations.

PUBLIC VALUE STATEMENT

Proper management of these areas will reduce the impacts on water quality in Delaware waters and help recreate ecosystem services that were lost during development.