Horseshoe crabs are important for many reasons, including their impacts ecologically, medically, and economically.

The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a keystone species in the Delaware Bay region, supporting multiple ecosystems and industries important to human health and livelihood.

The Watershed Approach to Toxics Assessment and Restoration (WATAR) program was formed to increase collaborative efforts between different divisions within DNREC.

Citizen science drives a large undertaking in understanding the horseshoe crab population, drawing people from all over the country to help with the spawning survey.

Recognizing public health, the environment, and the economy as key components in finding solutions to air pollution, DNREC has made significant progress in adopting effective and publicly-acceptable plans for emissions reductions at the lowest costs to the regulated community.

Every year, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations coordinate efforts to conduct a standardized spawning survey at select Delaware Bay beaches.

The Watershed Approach to Toxics Assessment and Restoration (WATAR) program focuses on achievement of these three goals.

Did you know that any place you stand in the State of Delaware is usually within one mile of a wetland? Approximately 25% of the state today is covered by wetlands, but a lot of wetland area has been lost over time due to land conversion to farms and housing developments, storms, and sea level rise.