The Christina Conservancy teamed up with the Delaware Nature Society and others to host a Bioblitz on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the DuPont Environmental Education Center in Wilmington. It was held as part of the Monarch Migration Celebration, an afternoon of culture and nature, and will help inform the lower Christina and Brandywine Rivers Remediation, Restoration and Resilience (CBR4) plan.

An important part of the CBR4 project is understanding what plants and animals call the area home, tracking their populations and identifying where in the project area they can be found. One way to do this is by hosting a Bioblitz – a fun walk led by a professional naturalist to identify any or all of the mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, wildflowers, trees and shrubs in a publicly owned property.

On September 25^th four walks were held between 1:00 pm and 5:00pm and over 60 species of plants and animal were identified. Walk participants learn about iNaturalist, a free app that can be downloaded to your smartphonean and used to collect and report species data. Users can upload an image of any animal or plant they see at any time, with its location for others to view and help identify. Download the App today and submit your sightings. (Learn More)

Congratulations to Madeline Messer of Wilmington, Delaware!

On June 8, the Christina Conservancy Board of Directors awarded the 2021 Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship to Madeline Messer.  A senior at the Charter School in Wilmington, Messer will attend Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to study Environmental Engineering with a focus on Environmental Justice.

In addition to an outstanding academic record that includes an impressive array of coursework, grades and test scores, Messer has demonstrated her devotion to the environment with an independent study focusing on conservation that includes volunteer work at the Delaware Nature Society (among other volunteer activities).  She has experienced first-hand the beauty of the Christina River and the need to protect it from pollution as a rower and counselor/mentor with the Wilmington Youth Rowing Association.

Please join us in recognizing Madeline Messer and honoring Edward W. Cooch, Jr. who was an avid environmentalist with a deep passion for the natural lands and water resources of the State of Delaware.  Each year starting in 2012 this $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a student recognized by the scholarship committee who demonstrates the ideals that Ned Cooch carried out in his daily life.  For more information on the scholarship and past awardees see http://www.christinaconservancy.org/scholarship/edward-w-cooch-jr-scholarship/.

To donate to the scholarship fund contact the ChristinaConservancyInc@gmail.com.

The Christina River Watershed Cleanup is an opportunity for volunteers to work with local organizations to remove man-made debris from this beautiful watershed. Trash on the ground in neighborhoods, parks and natural areas eventually makes its way into rivers, streams, and the ocean if not picked up. Last year’s cleanup was canceled due to the pandemic. This year the cleanup is back but with a virtual twist, all month long in April and into May! Join the virtual cleanup campaign from April 1st to May 15, 2021 with the freedom to select when and where your household participates.

Visit www.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org for information on how to volunteer.