Waterways Infrastructure & Investment Network
Waterways Infrastructure & Investment Network (WIIN) for the Mispillion & Cedar Creek Watersheds
A coalition of RASCL partners and stakeholders known as the Waterways Infrastructure and Investment Network (WIIN) was recently awarded grant funding to create a natural resource evaluation and management plan for the Mispillion and Cedar Creek watersheds.
The Mispillion River and Cedar Creek watersheds have some of the region’s most vital natural resources and some of the last remaining large tracts of undisturbed land in Delaware. They are located within an internationally recognized flyway for migrating birds and one of the most productive horseshoe crab spawning areas in the world. The area is under pressure from the impacts of changing environmental conditions, which has increased the risk of flooding in Slaughter Beach and Milford.
WIIN will create a stakeholder-led vision and management plan to benefit the local economies and coastal resilience of Slaughter Beach and the City of Milford. The project will explore ecotourism and nature-based investments that produce win-win benefits of economic opportunity and community resilience to climate and land use changes.
New from WIIN:
Map Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts
-
An economic-benefits assessment of natural resources along the Mispillion River is now available! View the report here:
Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware - source: The Pew Charitable Trusts
-
Map of the Mispillion Watershed - source: The Pew Charitable Trusts
Fact Sheets:
Project Highlights
-
Who's involved: The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary,* Delaware Sea Grant,* the City of Milford, the Town of Slaughter Beach, the Pew Charitable Trusts, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center,* Delaware Nature Society,* Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control*
-
* indicates a RASCL members organization
-
-
What are the outcomes:
-
Economic Study - An appraisal of the area’s natural resources to understand community benefits and economic returns. This study will help Milford and Slaughter Beach understand the value of their natural resources and leverage that knowledge to generate sustainable revenue and support for projects such as eco-tours and wetland restoration.
-
Phase 1 of the economic study is now available! Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware - source: The Pew Charitable Trusts
-
-
Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment – an analysis that will identify community assets and natural resources at risk of flooding, sea level rise, and land use changes.
-
Management Plan – a stakeholder-led vision that identifies ecotourism and nature-based investments that will promote the economic and coastal resilience of the area.
-
-
Who's providing funding: National Coastal Resilience Fund (through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and The Pew Charitable Trusts
-
What's the timeline: Summer/Fall 2020 through Winter 2022
WIIN in the news:
-
Taking Stock of Nature's Bounty (and Beauty) Delaware Beach Life, September 2021 (pg 16-17)
-
Commentary: Mispillion, Cedar Creek watersheds provide million-dollar boost to region Bay to Bay News, August 9, 2021
-
Coalition Seeks to Measure Economic Value of Delaware's Rivers and Surrounding Waterways Pew Blog July 28, 2021
-
New Research Values Two Delaware Watersheds in the Millions WRDE, July 28, 2021
-
How much do you value natural resources at Delaware’s bayshore? A local researcher finds a number Delaware Public Media, July 23, 2021
-
Often overlooked Delaware Bayshore worth millions to local community, study finds WHYY, July 23, 2021
-
Mispillion, Cedar Creek watersheds worth millions for nature alone, study says Delaware Live, July 22, 2021
-
Delaware Sea Grant to lead study of Mispillion and Cedar Creek Watersheds Delaware Public Media, January 5, 2021
-
UMD's Research Assess Economic Benefit Value of Two Delaware Watersheds in the Millions of Dollars Annually Press Release, July 2020
Photo credit: Pam Alquilani
Photo credit: Tony Pratt