Suddenly, the derelict Broadkill River wharf disappeared

It reminds me of the magic David Copperfield pulled several years back when, on national television, he made the Statue of Liberty disappear.

Last Saturday I was cruising in Nellie Lankford toward the launching ramp in the mouth of the Broadkill River. Suddenly I thought to myself, "Hey, I better watch out for the derelict wharf sticking out in the river off of Beach Plum Island." It's been there for more than 50 years and for much of its life served the scientific facility on the island that was the earliest iteration of the University of Delaware's College of Marine Studies.

Weather and lack of attention eventually took down the Beach Plum Island facilities but the wharf lived on. Eventually currents detached it from the island and it became a permanent hazard to navigation fairly close to the middle of the river.

But as quickly as my concern arose on Saturday, it evaporated when I realized the wharf had disappeared. Stormy Harrington, who operates the River Park marine facility at the end of Pilottown Road, said the wharf was removed last spring.

Delaware's Shoreline and Waterway Management Section Administrator Michael Powell provided the following explanation:

"The Division of Watershed Stewardship's Shoreline and Waterway Management Section worked directly with Manson, which was renting space at the DNREC Lewes field facility for boat docking and equipment storage during their construction of the Rehoboth wastewater outfall. While Manson was onsite, they had a large crane barge which was ideal for the task of removing the relic pilings. This navigational hazard would also have impacted Manson's operations, as they had to pass through the mouth of the Broadkill River on almost a daily basis with vessels and hauling pipe to the ocean location, so it was a win-win. There was no payment for this work."

The removal of the wharf remnants is a welcome improvement to navigation in that busy part of the river.

Grove Park trail welcome

Ray Quillen, a major bicycling advocate in our area, wrote a letter this week thanking Rehoboth officials for the new trail around Grove Park. I rode this important connector last Sunday morning and second Ray's sentiments.

The trail gets people away from the lighthouse roundabout, which can be a dicey area for cars, and even more so for bicyclists.

The new trail skirts the back side of Grove Park and passes between the Rehoboth Beach Museum and the canal overlook before meeting up with the sidewalk leading to the drawbridge. Cyclists coming through Rehoboth Beach on Henlopen or Columbia avenues from the direction of the Gordons Pond Trail will find the new trail very helpful. The entrance to the connector trail is right where the ends of Henlopen Avenue and Grove Street meet.

The safest way to bicycle across the Rehoboth Avenue drawbridge is by walking bicycles on the sidewalks on either side.

Careful in the August ocean

August is a great time to go into the ocean. The water feels cleaner, clearer and warmer, and the waves get a little more regular and taller. But, Fredman tells me based on his experience as a Rehoboth Beach lifeguard, the August ocean deserves an extra measure of respect. "The waves and currents are stronger in August - maybe the way the moon and the planets are lined up and the summer season moving on. Whatever, it's easier to get in trouble in August, so be careful."

Turning your back on waves is never a good idea.

Rainfall still running ahead

Local weather statistics for the end of July show we're still running about three inches ahead of normal in Sussex County for accumulated rainfall since Jan. 1. So far this year we've had just under 30 inches of rain compared to a normal average at this point of about 26 inches. We had 3.87 inches of rain in July compared to a normal July rainfall of 3.18 inches.

Watermelons, canary melons, cucumbers and tomatoes are all growing well, as are the sweet corn and peaches. Now is the best time of year for produce. Get after it.