6th Annual White Clay Creek Fest!

Newark, DE- White Clay Wild and Scenic Program in partnership with Delaware State Parks, United Water, Friends of the White Clay Creek Park, and other local organizations are pleased to announce the sixth annual White Clay Creek Fest scheduled for May 3 (rain date: May 4^th) from 12 to 4 p.m. at Carpenter Recreation Area, White Clay Creek State Park, just minutes away from UD north campus. Creek Fest celebrates the many ways to enjoy and protect the White Clay Creek, a National Wild and Scenic River.

Visitors are encouraged to come early for a 10:15 a.m. pre-Fest hike lead by the Pennsylvania Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve.  Hikers will trek down to the main stem of the White Clay and have the opportunity to look for and learn about stream life with a Stroud Water Research Center Educator, so wear old sneakers or bring a pair of boots along. There will be a shuttle available to take hikers back up to Creek Fest, or you can hike back up with a guide.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy live music by Almost Fab and be amazed at the power and precision of the Free-Flight Bird Encounter by Animal Behavior and Conservation Connections. Falafels from Newark’s Home Grown Café, pizza from Wood Fired Pizza, finger foods from Midnight Munchies Food Truck, and ice cream by UDairy Creamery are sure to satisfy. Local artists, including jewelry makers and writers, will be present selling their goods, and rain barrels will be available for purchase from Camels Hump Rain Barrels. Creek Fest has fun and educational activities for children of all ages, including an opportunity to start your very own Watershed Passport! Fly tying, gardening tips, environmental discussions and much more are part of this exciting day!

This is a free event; however, park entrance fees are in effect. More information about White Clay Creek State Park is available by calling the Chambers House Nature Center at (302) 368-6560, the White Clay Creek Park Office at (302) 368-6900, or by visiting destateparks.com.

Goddard Park Rain Garden Volunteer Planting

Saturday, May 17th from 9am-1pm

Goddard Park, London Grove Township

498 Wickerton Road, West Grove, PA 

Registration preferred! (see below for details)

The White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Rivers Program needs your volunteering support to help improve the water quality in the White Clay Creek. Two rain gardens, which work to capture, infiltrate and treat polluted run off, are in need of plants.

40 volunteers are needed to plant native wildflowers and grasses along the bottom and edges of two large rain gardens. Holes will be predrilled by the township, but volunteers should also be prepared to dig small holes. Volunteers will learn about native wildflowers and grasses for rain gardens and how they help to clean our water!

The event will take place on Saturday, May 17th from 9am-1pm.  Bring comfortable clothes and boots that you wouldn't mind getting dirty and wet. If you own small shovels or garden trowels and gardening gloves please bring them since there are a limited number supplied on-site. The event will occur at Goddard Park, 498 Wickerton Road, West Grove, PA in London Grove Township. Please click here to register.

Contact mpc@whiteclay.org for more information.

Winter in White Clay Watershed

It's another snowy day in the White Clay Creek watershed. Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner, but here are some fun facts about snow to hold you over until the weather warms up.

• An average snowflake is made up of more than 180 billion water molecules.
• Did you know there's a snow phobia? It's called chiophobia, and it's the intense fear of snow.
• There's a connection between snow and snacks! People tend to buy more cakes, cookies, and candies than any other food when a blizzard is on the forecast.
• The highest snowfall ever recorded in the U.S. in one year was 31.3 meters (102 feet) in Mount Rainier, Washington between February 1971 and February 1972.
• The most snow in one day in the U.S. was 76 inches in Silver Lake, Colorado in 1921. That's more than 6 feet falling from the sky in a single day!

Want to know how this winter stacks up to other winters throughout history? Thus far, this winter is in the top 5 snowiest winters in the White Clay Creek (the winter of 2010 is #1). As of February 17th, total snowfall at the New Castle County Airport was 49.4 inches. That's a lot of snow! So until spring returns, get out and enjoy a snowy White Clay winter day!