Clear into the Future




	IMPORTANCE OF THE RIVER History of the River History of Hagley The River's Uses About the Estuary The Impact of the River on Commerce THE WORKING RIVER Interview with the People Working on the River History of Delaware Ports Delaware River Cargo Map of Delaware River Ports How Do Ports Function THE LIVING RIVER The Species in and Around the River Challenges Facing our Estuary Community About the Clean Water Act National Estuary Programs How Can I Help Delaware Costal Conditions About Watersheds

Interview the People Working on the River

Bill Pike
Milford Parks and Recreation
Retiree, Volunteers as a Self-Employed Consultant for Milford

Q. What is your job description?
A. Bill is a self-employed consultant, and helps the city of Milford (through working directly with Milford Parks and Recreation) with tree management and fertilization issues. He is also a certified arborist and used to own his own tree business at one point. Bill is currently designing a woodland education park program along the Delaware River for the city of Milford. This program will become a part of the science curriculum for Milford schools. Bill is also developing a Delmarva coastal plain and tidal plants/woodlands eco-system instruction for research and education purposes. It is a wildlife management plan to get non-native species out of the area and grant public access in the region.

Q. How is your work related to the River?
A. His work brings awareness about the wildlife surrounding the estuary to adults, though he really tries to target school children. He holds workshops along the river that teach about the nearby plant species. Bill also owns woodland acres and marsh on the Mispillion and recently completed a major wetland restoration project on it. His lifelong goal is to education people about the environment and ways to protect it.

Q. If you could wave a magic wand, what could people do to help preserve the estuary community and the area in which you work every day?
A. People would be aware of what they are doing as far as what they dump on the land, what they cut down, how much fertilizer they use, etc. There needs to be a focus on run-off because it is directly related to the river and the erosion of water banks, like the tree-lined Riparian River. These trees act as natural buffers that absorb nitrogen and other harmful materials that we do not want making their way into the water. We need these trees to survive in such a fragile environment, so people can’t be cutting them down and overloading them with waste. Bill wants to get everyone as concerned as he is about these situations. He also wants to give back – he is just a small noise, but if you start yelling loud enough, someone will eventually listen.

Q. What obstacles do you face daily?
A. One major obstacle is when people do not use biodegradable products or do not recycle because this creates a build up of trash that leads into the river. He also faces the difficulty of getting volunteers to help with things because today’s generation thinks “what’s in it for me?” Currently, he is trying to set up a Mispillion Watershed Organization made up of all volunteers, but it is difficult to get something so big put together.

Q. How can people volunteer and get involved with you initiatives?
A. Bill is considered the go-to person in the organization. He is currently putting together a list of events for people to volunteer for and is looking for help. If interested, you should contact him at 302-422-1104 or William.Pike@hotmail.com.

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