Delaware Code Title 7. Conservation § 7306. Dedication process

(a) The Department is authorized and empowered, for and on behalf of the State, to acquire nature preserves by gift, devise, purchase, exchange or any other method of acquiring real property or any estate, interest or right therein, provided that such acquisition shall not be made through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, and further provided that any interest owned by the State or by any subdivision thereof may be dedicated only by voluntary act of the agency having jurisdiction thereof.  The Department may acquire the fee simple interest in an area or any 1 or more lesser estates, interests and rights therein, including (without limitation upon the generality of the foregoing by reason of specification) a leasehold estate, an easement either appurtenant or in gross and either granting the State specified rights of use or denying to the grantor specified rights of use or both, a license, a covenant, and other contractual rights.  A nature preserve may be acquired voluntarily for such consideration as the Department deems advisable or without consideration.

(b) The Secretary of the Department, upon the advice and concurrence of the Council, shall accept natural areas by articles of dedication or gift.  A nature preserve is established when articles of dedication have been filed by or at the direction of the owner of land, or a governmental agency having ownership or control thereof, in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the land is located.

(c) Articles of dedication shall be executed by the owner of the land in the same manner and with the same effect as a conveyance of an interest in land and shall be irrevocable except as provided in this section.  The county recorder may not accept articles of dedication for recording unless they contain terms restricting the use of the land which adequately provide for its preservation and protection against modification or encroachment resulting from occupation, development or other use which would destroy its natural or esthetic conditions for 1 or more of the uses and purposes set forth in this section.

(d) Articles of dedication may contain provisions for the management, custody and transfer of land, provisions defining the rights of the owner or operating agency and the Department, and such other provisions as may be necessary or advisable to carry out the uses and purposes for which the land is dedicated.  They may contain conditions under which the owner and the Department may agree to rescind the articles.

(e) The Department may make or accept amendments of any articles of dedication upon terms and conditions that will not destroy the natural or esthetic condition of a preserve.  If the fee simple interest in the area is not held by the State, no amendment shall be made without the written consent of the owner.  Each amendment shall be recorded in the same manner as the articles of dedication.