Join the third annual Race for Our Rivers - 5K Race and Walk - at scenic Blackbird Creek Reserve at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 23 to benefit projects that preserve and protect the river and related natural resources of southern New Castle County. The race will be held, rain or shine, at the new 5K cross county course at the Reserve, 801 Blackbird Landing Road near Townsend. The 5K Race and Walk will be followed by the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Blackbird Creek Fall Festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The race and walk are for everyone – runners, walkers, environmental enthusiasts, families and anyone interested in helping the watershed. “We encourage people who live in the area to take part in the race, learn about the challenges facing our watersheds, and help make a difference in protecting our natural resources,” said Sara Wozniak, watershed outreach specialist with DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship. Awards will be presented for the 5K Race to the overall top male and female runners and the top three male and female runners in each age group: 13 and under; 14-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; and 50 and over. Mail-in registration is $25, and must be postmarked by Oct. 18.

 To register, visit www.apporiver.org and print the registration form and mail it with the fee to: Appoquinimink River Association, P.O. Box 341, Middletown, DE 19709. Registration online is available at www.active.com by searching for “Race for Our Rivers.” Online registration closes Oct. 20. After Oct. 18, registration will be accepted 7:30 – 8:50 a.m. onsite, only on event day, Oct. 23, and costs $25 per participant. The first 250 participants to register will receive a free event t-shirt. The registration fee includes a one year paid membership in the Appoquinimink River Association.

The race and walk will be followed by refreshments and a silent auction of great prizes donated by sponsors and members of the association. Immediately after the race, enjoy autumn’s beauty at the free Blackbird Creek Fall Festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine. The festival offers something for the entire family – hayrides, canoe trips along the creek, guided hikes, live folk music, wildlife artists, crafts and tasty food from local vendors. The Appoquinimink River Association, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve, protect and enhance the river and related natural resources of southern New Castle County, was organized in April 2004. Originally created by DNREC in 2000 as the Appoquinimink Tributary Action Team, volunteer members are citizens, educators, landowners, farmers, scientists, and elected officials who care about the quality of the water in the watershed. The team developed detailed pollution limits – total maximum daily loads or TMDLs – and a pollution control strategy for reducing pollution to meet the limits.

For more information and directions to the 5K Race and walk, visit the Appoquinimink River Association’s website, www.apporiver.org.

 For more information on the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, visit http://www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/DNERR/Pages/DNERRBlackbirdCreekFallFestival.aspx. DNREC’s website, http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/water2000/Sections/Watershed/ws/index.htm