DNREC Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program

Just your typical nekton survey view. Don't worry, the water was warm and the fish made it home safely.

Meet Abby, one of the members of our summer crew! We're thrilled to have her assisting with our vital wetland work. Abby joined Delaware DNREC in the spring as an Aquatic Habitat Monitoring and Restoration Scientist and is diving into efforts to support submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), while lending her skills to the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS). Under these surveys, she will be helping our team during the National Wetland Condition Assessments (NWCA) – exploring habitats, working hard, and getting sweaty!

Hailing from Maryland and growing up by the Chesapeake Bay, Abby's coastal roots sparked her interest for aquatic ecosystems and watershed stewardship early on. Fresh out of the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minors in Coastal and Marine Geoscience, she's eager to dive deeper into wetland and aquatic habitat conservation right here in Delaware.

The epitome of waterfront living. Meet the muskrat, a savvy rodent architect in wetlands native to Delaware. They build homes by tunneling along the water's edge or building dome lodges right in the marsh. Check out this dome-shaped lodge we stumbled upon made from mud, vegetation and twigs. Once the structure is big enough, they chew a secret underwater entrance for protection from predators. Inside, they create additional chambers for dining, lounging and raising their young. Talk about dedication - these lodges last just 6 months before nature demands a remodel!

A unexpected find. Striped burrfish, typically residing near bay grass beds, are solitary bottom dwellers rarely seen. These fish have few predators, as they can inflate into a spiny ball to ward off threats. Despite reaching only up to 10inches in length, they pack a punch; their sharp spines and strong mouth remind us to handle them with care (hence the net).