Entrance Road/Parking Upgrades: The work on the new entrance road and parking area at the Refuge is to begin within days of the writing of this newsletter!! The project scope will also include the service road leading to the rear of the Environmental Education building complex. Other upgrades to be included in the sixty day contract are: installation of a new entrance gate, lighting, and security cameras. The porous paving material will allow water to filter through, thus permitting greater groundwater recharge and less run-off.

During the upgrade work, refuge staff, volunteers and the public will be inconvenienced. An alternate parking site will be made available near the end of Lindbergh Boulevard, and a temporary entrance to the refuge will be created by making a breach in the berm about one hundred yards further down Lindbergh Boulevard than the existing entrance. Please be advised that those with special needs and/or physical challenges should call in advance of their visit so arrangements can be made during this period of upgrade work. Call the CEEC main number at 215.365.3118 for information.

Erosion Stabilization Work: As we have previously reported, there is a need to stabilize the banks of the Lagoons on the western side of the refuge, where they abut Interstate 95. The Army Corps permit has been received and bid opening will begin on September 16. If all goes well, the work should begin in October and be completed by the Spring of 2003.

Work is also slated to begin on a tide gate on Long Hook Creek (a tributary of Darby Creek and the Refuge), in nearby Tinicum Township. The construction of the tide gate was thought necessary by Township officials, as a means to reduce flooding problems recently experienced by area residents. Both the public and refuge staff will be impacted for about a month with restricted access to the dike between the Route 420 parking areas and the foot bridge that crosses Long Hook Creek at its confluence with Darby Creek.

West Nile Virus : For the third year in a row the refuge has served as a host site for The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP), Department of Agriculture, "Sentinel Chicken West Nile Virus Detection Project". As the name implies, chickens are used to detect the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV). While the chickens do not actually develop WNV they do develop antibodies that can be detected through blood testing. If tested positive, and then again on re-testing, brain tissue is analyzed. Of twelve chickens tested, three at the refuge have tested positive.

A Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection parallel program involves the collection of mosquitoes in close proximity to where chickens are cooped. The procedure utilizes Carbon Dioxide emitting traps for species identification and WNV testing. To date there have been no positive results from these traps at the refuge.

DEP will work with Fish& Wildlife Service if any larvicide's and/or adultacide spraying is warranted. While there is no immediate indication of any problem at the refuge, the public should take precautions where mosquitoes are present with maximum clothing coverage and the use of a DEET based repellent.

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