Dorothy Miller was born in Windber, Pennsylvania, in 1931 and received her BS in chemistry from Pennsylvania State University before going on to be an analytical chemist at DuPont. While employed at DuPont, Miller became vocal against the company's acquisition of White Clay Creek land for the intent of building a dam. With concerns that the existing water supply in Delaware would not be sufficient for the expansion of two DuPont production plants in Wilmington, the White Clay Creek Dam, which would have flooded 1,160 acres, was slated to supply 71 million gallons of water a day.
Miller believed that the best way to protect water resources was by protecting the land around them. It was this belief that influenced her civic involvement in water resource management and other development projects. An avid birder, Miller used her love and knowledge of the area's flora and fauna and consolidated the field notes of a number of Delawarean naturalists to produce a report detailing the proposed dam's effect on wildlife. Throughout the dam proposal debate, her survey, which was published in March 1970, was often referenced to highlight the ecological impact flooding the valley would have. Miller joined forces with Don Sharpe of the United Auto Workers and Dennis Neuzil of the Delaware Sierra Club, as well as 22 other organizations to fight to preserve White Clay Creek. Miller also served as a leader in new umbrella organizations, the Coalition for Natural Stream Valleys and the Citizens for White Clay Creek. Materials like the "Save White Clay Creek, Don't Dam It!" bumper sticker served as their rallying cry, putting citizens from both Pennsylvania and Delaware in contact so they could work together.
A longtime resident of Newark, Miller routinely scoured newspapers for sheriff sales of contiguous property that the City of Newark and New Castle County could add to White Clay Creek State Park. Much of White Clay Creek State Park, including the Deerfield Golf Club was added to White Clay as a result of the work of Miller and her colleagues. In 1976, 7.3-acres of land bordering White Clay Creek, Capitol Trail and Cleveland Avenue was acquired by the state as a result of Miller's scouting. It was renamed Dorothy P. Miller Park in July, 2006.
Dorothy Miller, "Flora and Fauna of White Clay Creek and Valley preliminary survey". MSS 0875, Dorothy Miller papers.
This preliminary survey of the flora and fauna of White Clay Creek and Valley, compiled by Dorothy Miller, was used by citizens and groups alike as a starting point for dissenting the White Clay Creek dam proposal.
"Save White Clay Creek, Don't Dam It!". MSS 0875, Dorothy Miller papers.
“Save White Clay Creek, Don’t Dam It!” bumper sticker was used by dissenters of the dam proposal in both Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin, "Facts about White Clay Creek Reservoir". MSS 0875, Dorothy Miller papers.
