DNREC to hold workshops Friday, Oct. 31 in Slaughter Beach and Saturday, Nov. 1 in Rehoboth on updates to Regulations Governing Beach Protection and Use of Beaches

DNREC to hold workshops Friday, Oct. 31 in Slaughter Beach and Saturday, Nov. 1 in Rehoboth on updates to Regulations Governing Beach Protection and Use of Beaches

DOVER (Oct. 27, 2014) – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section will hold two public workshops this week addressing the history of the Delaware’s Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches, and possible changes to the regulations. The first workshop will take place from 2 – 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, at the Slaughter Beach Fire Hall, 357 Bay Avenue, Slaughter Beach, DE 19963, with the second workshop set for 10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

The Shoreline & Waterway Management Section is evaluating potential updates to the Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches that will increase the effectiveness of the Coastal Construction Program and improve its protection of the beach and dune system. The purpose of updating the regulations is to incorporate recent legislative changes to the Beach Preservation Act (Del. Code Title 7, Chapter 68), while also incorporating DNREC and Division of Watershed Stewardship policies and construction standards that will result in less damage to structures and protection measures for the dune and beach resource.

The updates will also harmonize various provisions of the regulations and clarify how much and what kind of construction is permitted seaward of the Beach Preservation Building Line. Updates to the Beach Preservation Building Line will also be considered during the two workshops.

Each workshop will begin with a DNREC presentation giving the history of the Beach Preservation Act and the Regulations Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches. The presentation will then review changes to the regulations from legislative action, and cite other possible changes to the regulations. After the presentation, DNREC Shoreline & Waterway Management Section staff will take questions and comments from the public.

For more information, please contact: Jennifer Luoma, environmental scientist, Division of Watershed Stewardship, at 302-739-9921.