DOVER, Del. - Impoundment dike repairs are likely to cause partial closures of Little Creek Wildlife Area during early waterfowl season, according to an announcement made on Thursday, Oct. 26 by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
DNREC says the closures are needed due to emergency repairs of the breached exterior dike at the Little Creek Wildlife Area's West Impoundment, which is where waterfowl blinds numbered seven, nine, 50, 51, and all walk-in blinds, are located.
The agency says that impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia weakened a portion of the dike at the impoundment along the tidal Little River.
DNREC says, "The weakened portion – combined with extensive coastal flooding earlier this month – has resulted in a breach of the dike of the West Impoundment to the extent that the impoundment now acts as a fully tidal body of water, limiting both habitat benefits for wildlife and access for recreational users."
According to DNREC, the agency has restricted access to the West Impoundment, effective immediately. The agency says future closures of the access road to the impoundment are also necessary to allow for construction work to repair the breached dike.
Due to the damage to the dike and the repairs needed, DNREC says navigational hazards that now exist within portions of the West Impoundment require restricted boating access for waterfowl hunters.
Additionally, DNREC says the road and boat ramp providing access to waterfowl blinds on the West Impoundment may also need to be closed for construction work on the dike.
DNREC says information will be available at the Little Creek Lottery Station off Route 9 throughout the waterfowl season, which begins on Friday, Oct. 27, if waterfowl hunting is to be permitted while the dike has been breached.
For more information, you can call the DNREC Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.