A map of offshore Delaware that was formulated in part with information from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is the 2020 winner of the Charles J. Mankin Memorial Award from the Association of American State Geologists (AASG).

 For the past 30 years, BOEM has helped to direct and fund research for coastal states in order to gather and share information to produce important data resources and maps like this one.

The Delaware Geologic Survey (DGS) map shows the seafloor geology in state and Federal waters offshore Delaware and provides scientists, engineers, and coastal communities with geologic information including sand and gravel resources that may be used to mitigate sea-level rise.  The geologic map also supplies information necessary for renewable energy infrastructure and other ocean uses.  The 1:40,000 scale map covers the area from the Maryland stateline to the Delaware Bay and out almost 10 miles offshore.

“We are pleased the cooperative agreements between DGS and BOEM led to the development of such a great map. I think it is a great product and may serve as a template for other coastal states to develop as their data collection warrants,” said Dr. David R. Wunsch, State Geologist and Director Delaware Geological Survey.

This long-term partnership between DGS and BOEM has led to one of the nation’s first surface geology map linking the Delaware barrier shoreline to the inner and outer continental shelf. The map integrates information from geophysical data and vibracores that BOEM funded offshore Delaware in the early 1990s, from a major state-of-the-art geophysical mapping and coring campaign undertaken by BOEM following Hurricane Sandy, as well as data collected in the Wind Energy Area offshore the State of Delaware. Many reports by DGS and other state geological surveys are available here.

“Congratulations to the Delaware team on their well-deserved recognition for this map,” said Dr. Megan Carr, BOEM’s Chief of the Office of Strategic Resources, which includes management of marine minerals.  “It is exciting when data sets of different vintages are integrated together to create tangible results that will be useful to multiple parties. I look forward to continuing our relationship with all members of AASG in future collaborations.” 

Three geologists with the Delaware Geological Survey at the University of Delaware – C. Robin Mattheus, Kelvin W. Ramsey and Jamie L. Tomlinson – will receive the 2020 Charles J. Mankin Award from the Association of American State Geologists during an online ceremony on Nov. 13.  The map represents several decades of data collection and exemplary interpretive efforts on the part of the authors.  A winning map must “elegantly, thoroughly, and innovatively [provide] sound and influential information on regional geology, or an energy or mineral resource topic,” according to the association’s website. 

Called DGS Geologic Map No. 25, the map is available as a PDF, which be downloaded from the DGS web page.

By BOEM