Kent Conservation District

04/28/2026

During yesterday‘s 2026 Governor’s Conservation Awards, the Kent Conservation District awarded Gregg and Stephanie Knutsen of G&S Dairy our Agricultural Award for their dedication to agricultural conservation and stewardship. The Delaware State Fair Route 13 Pond Improvements Project received our Urban Award for its’ proactive and innovative stormwater management and infrastructure stewardship on a failing stormwater pond located on the Delaware State Fairgrounds.  The design and construction of this project was guided by Leroy and Bruce Betts. Representative Charles Postles, Jr. received the Legislator of the year Award for his support of conservation work in Kent County. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!!

04/23/2026

Congratulations to the Odessa High School FFA Envirothon Team on their win!! Thank you to all the participants, volunteers and sponsors of this year’s event. Special thanks to the Sussex Academy Elementary School for hosting the 2026 Delaware Envirothon.

Odessa High School’s FFA and Agriscience team celebrated earning first place in the 2026 Delaware Envirothon Championship, held at Sussex Academy — marking their second consecutive win. 🌿

Now in its milestone 30th year, Envirothon is a statewide environmental education competition sponsored by DNREC. This year, nine high schools and one 4-H club fielded a record 23 teams that spent the school year preparing to test their knowledge of aquatic ecology, soils and land use, wildlife, forestry and the current environmental issue of nonpoint source pollution mitigation.

After more than three hours of testing, the Odessa team was crowned state champion and will represent Delaware at the National Conservation Foundation International Envirothon in Mississippi this July.

04/16/2026

Funding is still available for this program through the Kent Conservation District and can be used on septics located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in ANY county of Delaware. Check out our website at kentcd.org or call us at 302-608-5370 for all the details.

Please help us spread the word about our Septic Pump-Out Cost-Share Program! Up to $200 available to homeowners to help pay for the cost of septic tank maintenance if you live in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed! Visit our website at www.kentcd.org to apply. Please share, share, share!

04/15/2026

It’s official, 2026 Stewardship Week will be the week of April 26th - May 3rd.

04/14/2026

KCD participated in the Make A Splash event at the St. Jones Reserve teaching students about the importance of water conservation.

03/16/2026

The 2026 Delaware Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale is open for preorders. Composting helps reduce the 30% of household trash made up of organic waste, while rain barrels conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff that can carry pollutants into local waterways.

Order by April 16 and pick up April 18. This is a preorder-only sale — no on-site purchases will be available. Order using the link in the comments below.

🌱 Pickup locations:

Sussex County — Georgetown Elementary School
301 W. Market St., Georgetown, DE
Time: 9-10:30 a.m.

Kent County — Richardson and Robbins Building
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE (navigate to Innovation Way in your GPS app)
Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.

New Castle County — Lukens Building
391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

02/13/2026

01/21/2026

We are proud to reintroduce Daniel Tartt, Field Coordinator for Kent Conservation District’s Drainage Assistance Programs!

Danny plays a vital role in assisting Tax Ditch Associations maintain the 73 active tax ditches across Kent County, as well as assisting with agricultural drainage issues. By working closely with local stakeholders and the State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), he ensures our community has the technical support it needs.

How Danny can help:
Tax Ditch Support: Having a maintenance issue or planning a meeting? Reach out! Danny can provide guidance on maintenance best practices and history.

Agricultural Drainage: Are you a producer facing drainage challenges? Danny is available to analyze onsite issues.

Funding: He can help you navigate available cost-share funding to support your maintenance projects.

Contact Danny today: 302-943-7904 or [email protected]

01/12/2026

This edition of the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) Connections quarterly newsletter covers October through December 2025 and focuses on the resilience of district employees who maintained on-the-ground conservation efforts despite the extended federal government shutdown.

Key highlights include NCDEA leadership advocacy in Washington, D.C., updates from key partner meetings in Texas and Tennessee, and a spotlight on innovative w**d management in Colorado. You will also find , a schedule for our upcoming presence at the 2026 NACD meeting in San Antonio, including details of the launch of the NCPP Conservation Planning Training Pilot program and other exciting NCPP developments for 2026.

This newsletter is a two-way resource—your stories of triumph and fresh ideas help shape our community. Please keep sharing them with us.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to conservation. Let’s keep building together.

01/08/2026

Planning a Construction Project? You may need a permit from KCD.

Whether you are breaking ground on a new backyard workshop, a custom home, a local business, or a large-scale subdivision, don’t forget that sediment and stormwater management is a key step in the process!

In addition to your standard county or state requirements, you will likely need a KCD permit before you begin. Starting without the proper permits can lead to delays, so let’s make sure your project gets off to a smooth start. Not sure if you need a permit? Before you move any dirt, check with us!

*Visit our website: https://www.kentcd.org/services/sediment-stormwater/design-permitting/
*Or give us a call: (302) 608-5370

Let’s work together to keep Kent County’s land and water healthy while you build for the future.