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

Donna Argo
Works for AmeriCorps
Volunteer at DuPont Nature Center

Q. Background:
A. Donna has grown up with marsh between her toes. She lived in Cambridge, MD right on the river. Her grandmother pit crabbed until she was 80 years old, and her grandfather, uncles, and brother were all watermen with workboats. She considers herself an eastern shore girl born and bred. Donna just loves the river, so being able to work on the river is a blessing.

Q. What does the term “working river” mean to you?
A. A working river is one that has work boats that crab and fish on it. Donna mentioned Thumper, the well-known sailboat down by Nature Center on the Mispillion Harbor.

Q. What does the river mean to you?
A. Life. There are so many eco-systems on the river; it represents so many different types of life. It also means so many memories to her. She loves the smell of marsh mud because she grew up with marshes all around her.

Q. Job Description:
A. Donna is a volunteer at the DuPont Nature Center. Her day-to-day tasks include things like cleaning the sturgeon tanks (note: sturgeon are unique fish that live to be 50-60 years old), taking care of the horseshoe crabs, talking to visitor who come to the center, and doing some research on the animals around the center.

Q. What are some of the challenges you face every day?
A. Small challenges include not having enough information to answer all of the questions of the Nature Center visitors. These challenges can be overcome by the research she does on the internet and in books. The biggest challenge she faces is probably the weather. When high tide comes in, the roads that lead to the Nature Center flood. This happens the worst during full moons and new moons. Both employees and visitors are prevented from coming to the center at those times.

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. Donna would like people to love and appreciate what is around them. They need to learn to take care of the river and the land surrounding it by not dumping things into the river and be careful of introducing new species into the estuary community.

Q. What made you enter your career?
A. Donna worked in the medical department for 35 years, but when the doctor she worked for died she went to work for AmeriCorps and did some hurricane relief work with them. She has known Dawn Webb, director of the DuPont Nature Center, for 18 years and began working as a volunteer at the center in November 2007. Now she spends almost every day at the Nature Center.

Q. What has been your greatest experience working at the Nature Center?
A. Donna has always adored eagles. Growing up, it was so rare seeing them. So it was extremely memorable for her when she saw an eagle flying outside the Nature Center on her first day of work there.

Q. If you could give advice to someone who wants to work in your profession, what would it be?
A. It is hard to make a living as a waterman, so she recommends finding a position such as Dawn Webb’s. Go into marine biology or something of the sort. Also, just learn to protect what we have, instill a love for nature, and appreciate your surroundings.

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