At a Glance
This plan will help protect and enhance ecological resources while supporting eco-tourism initiatives.
Project Description
Main Street Delaware City, Inc., a non-profit revitalization organization, wanted to improve and market historic and cultural attractions that bring new residents, visitors, and businesses to Delaware City. A main component of the town’s revitalization is the development of an eco-tourism program. Main Street Delaware City, Inc. turned to Biohabitats to assess the status of ecological resources in the project area, establish priorities for the protection of existing ecological infrastructure, and develop recommendations for ecological restoration and management measures in order to support a thriving eco-tourism program.
The project included a science-based evaluation of existing natural and cultural resource conditions. The ecological assessment examined regional landscape ecology using GIS. It involved collecting, reviewing and extracting pertinent natural resource information and augmenting the infomation with site investigations of existing ecological conditions. Biohabitats developed a concept plan highlighting ecological protection needs and restoration opportunities that would be compatible with eco-tourism initiatives.
Proposed ecological restoration initiatives included wetland restoration and enhancement, shoreline stabilization, stream restoration and invasive species control. The concept plan supports bird watching, other wildlife observation, canoeing, kayaking, sport fishing, walking, jogging, native vegetation viewing and environmental education.