Appoquinimink River Association

Our History

In 1998, the EPA established the first Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in the Appoquinimink Watershed for the tidal portions of the river. A TMDL gives the maximum amount of pollution that is allowed for a waterbody and indicates the amount of pollution that needs to be reduced to meet this threshold.

In order to allow any interested citizen to participate in the process of reducing pollution in their neighborhood waters, DNREC created the Appoquinimink Tributary Action Team in 2000. Comprised of local educators, scientists and landowners, this group spent the next couple of years discussing and developing detailed recommendations on how the 20% nutrient reduction required by the TMDL could be achieved in the watershed.

Following the issuance of the second Appoquinimink TMDL in December 2003, the Team initiated further discussion of ways to reach the TMDL that now required a 60% nutrient reduction. As a result of the intensive dialogue, the team decided that it was necessary to transition the group into a separate nonprofit organization to be able to best address the needs of the watershed. Thus, in April 2004 the Appoquinimink River Association was incorporated in the State of Delaware.

Sara Wozniak, Executive Director/Watershed Coordinator

Sara Wozniak is the Executive Director and Watershed Coordinator for the Appoquinimink River Association (ARA). Sara graduated magna cum laude from the University of Delaware in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Political Science and again in 2004 with a Master of Energy and Environmental Policy with a specialization in Water Policy and Management.

While working towards her Master’s degree, Sara was able to work for the Institute for Public Administration’s Water Resources Agency and with the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy. This allowed her to participate in many projects and with many groups including the Governor’s Drought Advisory Committee, Water Supply Coordinating Council, Delaware Source Water Protection Program and other countries such as Germany and South Korea.

Board of Directors

Dan O’Connell, President

A native of Chatham New Jersey, I moved to Delaware in 1999 to begin work as a biology teacher at St. Andrew's School, in Middletown. Together with wife, Quinn Kerrane, and four year-old son Liam, I live at the boarding school.

After spending several years drawing up a set of locally-tailored pollution control recommendations for state officials, I helped organize a local non-profit group — the Appoquinimink River Association. When not teaching or working on environmental issues, I enjoy running, canoeing and other outdoor pursuits.

The hours spent outdoors on and around the Appoquinimink River have motivated me to work to protect the health of this environment. I look forward to a future in which my son can enjoy an environment at least as healthy and beautiful as the one I have inherited.

Charles Miller, Vice President

I have an MS in Marine Science from University of Delaware and 31 years experience working within fisheries, wetlands, and other related environmental issues in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.

I currently have projects monitoring the River Herring use of fish ladders at eight impoundments in Delaware and four in New Jersey. I have projects that involve wetlands and stormwater management. I live in the watershed with wetlands in my back yard. I fish, feed birds, photograph wildlife and enjoy keeping the watershed healthy and attractive for other residents.

Donna Holmberg, Secretary

Donna Holmberg, has been a state employee for almost 14 years. Her time in the state services includes service with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, which is where her interest on conservation and preservation of natural resources began. She is recently married and lives in Middletown, Delaware with her husband and their two children.

When she's not volunteering time with the Appoquinimink River Association (ARA), Donna can often be found doing volunteer work as the Delaware Regional Coordinator for the Internet Miniature Pinscher Service (IMPS), a nationwide internet-based Minpin rescue organization:

www.minpinrescue.org

Donna and her family will be one of the first group of participants in the new SmartYards program, which is co-sponsored by the ARA. Donna and her new husband are looking forward to taking their honeymoon this summer, a 23-day trip around the world that she won in a nationwide essay contest sponsored by Red Vines and the American Licorice Company.

Tom Harrison, Education Co-Chair

I am a seventh grade science teacher for the Appoquinimink School District at Meredith Middle School.

I was asked to be a member of the original Appoquinimink River Tributary Action Team that convened in August, 2000 because of my involvement with the Delaware Department of Education's development of a new 7th grade teaching unit on Delaware's Watersheds. I had been taking several courses in aquatic ecology education and felt that being a part of this team might improve my teaching. My goal at the time was to join the team, listen and learn as much as I could about this watershed so I could transfer the information to the students I taught.

I do not live in this watershed, so my involvement has focused on the educational aspects of the team's work and not the pollution control strategy development. However, since I teach over 120 seventh grade students each year, I have an opportunity to take what I have learned and impact all those families.

With the transition of the Appoquinimink River Tributary Action Team into the Appoquinimink River Association, I am hopeful the educational impact of our work will be greater over the coming years.

Katie Harrison, Education Co-Chair

Hello, my name is Katie Harrison. I am serving as the co-chair of education for the Appoquinimink River Association. I currently teach 7th and 8th grade science at Everett Meredith Middle School in the Appoquinimink School District.

My goal in joining this team was (and still is) to learn more about the watershed in which I teach. The 7th grade curriculum, particularly, has an entire unit dealing with Delaware Watersheds and I want to be able to impart the most up-to-date and accurate information to my students. I also desire to be as knowledgeable as I can about this watershed and the other watersheds throughout Delaware.