Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

A walk in the woods or a trip through American history?
Our Engagement Director, John Harrod, recently led a guided nature walk at Banning Park. The talk, called Celebrating 250 Years of America's Native Landscapes, was one of the activities paired with the New Castle County Libraries' Big Read featuring the book The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson. The walk pointed out native plant and tree species, how Indigenous peoples, such as the Lenape, used and continue to use these plants for food and medicine, and how early colonists relied on these same native species for survival and independence.

The Philadelphia Water Department has a new spokesdog! Gracie Girl, an 8-year-old cane corso, won the cape at the 2026 Spokesdog Contest on Sunday at Philadelphia Brewing Co. She will spend the next year educating Philadelphians about the importance of scooping the p**p to keep doody from washing down our storm drains.

More photos are available in our Flickr album. Click on the link in the comments section below.
🐶🐶🐾🏆👇

Don't forget to join us on Sunday for the 2026 Philadelphia Water Department Spokesdog Competition. We'll be at Philadelphia Brewing Co. from 2-5. Competition starts at 3:30 p.m. All dogs with owners who live in Philadelphia are welcome. Could your dog be the next PWD spokesdog? Join us and find out!

Big shout-out to Thomas, our restoration science specialist, and our science fellows, Sydney, Michaela, and Kathryn, for helping with shell bag deployments at Bowers Beach and Collins Beach in Delaware.

We are about a week away from naming a new Philadelphia Water Department Spokesdog. Could your dog be the one? You'll never know unless you enter, and you can't enter unless you attend this Sunday's Spokesdog Competition at the Philadelphia Brewing Co. from 2-5 p.m. No pre-registration required.

Who will win? You have a week to find out.🐶🐾🐶🐾🏆???
See more in the link below. 👇👇

Love Submerged Aquatic Vegetation? Due to continued interest in the Delaware SAV Seekers Volunteer Monitoring Program, the University of Delaware and Delaware Sea Grant are offering several upcoming training opportunities for those who have not yet participated in the program.

Upcoming Training Opportunities:
June 17 – Full-Day SAV Seekers Training, Auburn Valley State Park
June 23 – SAV Identification & iNaturalist Webinar (Time TBD; more information coming soon)
July 10 – Part 1 Training, University of Delaware Lewes Campus

These trainings are designed to introduce participants to submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), species identification, monitoring protocols, and community science tools used to support Delaware’s growing statewide SAV dataset.

For more information, see the link in the comments below:

Give it up for Willow! Philly’s beloved spokesdog is ending her term.

Over the past year, Willow’s mission was simple: encourage everyone to scoop the p**p and protect our waterways. She attended community events around the city sharing information about responsible pet ownership.

Her reign may be ending, but the mission continues. Join us on June 14 at the Philadelphia Water Department Spokesdog Competition for a chance to become Philly’s new dog ambassador for clean waters.

To learn more about the upcoming Spokesdog Competition on June 14, visit www.delawareestuary.org/event/2026-spokesdog-competition/

2026 Spokesdog Competition | Partnership for the DE Estuary Could your pup be Philadelphia Water Department's next Spokesdog? There's only one way to find out. Come and enter the 2026 competition on Sunday, June 14.

Celebrate Nature Through Books, Nature, and PDE!

There's just a few tickets left for you to join us for a guided nature walk to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by exploring the enduring role of native plants in shaping the American landscape environmentally, culturally, and historically. The walk is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13.

Highlights include the area’s native plant species, how Indigenous peoples, such as the Lenape, used and continue to use these plants for food and medicine, and how early colonists relied on these same native species for survival and independence.

Participants will receive a seed packet of native species. This is part of New Castle County Library's NEA Big Read in connection with the book, The Seed Keeper, by Diane Wilson. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-to-grow-celebrating-250-years-of-americas-native-landscapes-tickets-1985831138392

Take a peek behind the scenes with Spokesdog Willow!

Just like this photoshoot, our city and natural systems rely on small details going right. Did you know that many storm drains flow to our local waterways? Since Philly gets all its drinking water from local rivers and creeks, it’s extremely important for everyone to keep the drains free of pollutants like dog p**p!

“Doo” your part. Scoop the p**p! Spokesdog Willow helps spread the word to “scoop the p**p!” To learn more about the upcoming Philadelphia Water Department Spokesdog Competition on June 14, visit www.delawareestuary.org/event/2026-spokesdog-competition/

Managing Dog Waste | Partnership for the DE Estuary Do your part to keep our Delaware waterways clean by managing dog waste. Explore other tips & engagement programs with Partnership for the DE Estuary.

Shuckfest was amazing! Congrats to the Oyster House on their 50th anniversary and for throwing a phenomenal block party. Thank you for inviting us to join in the fun and for allowing us to recycle all those oyster shells - they'll be put to good use in our restoration projects throughout the Delaware River and Bay. 🦪🦪🦪❤️❤️

SHUCK FEST