Breaking News

April 23, 2013

The Route 13 improvement project is underway. Concrete Jersey barriers have been placed on one lane of the highway, so it is no longer possible make the road crossing from one section of the Canal towpath to the other near the Courier Times building in Levittown.

April 16, 2013

More than 175 volunteers turned out for Delaware Canal Clean-Up Day last Saturday! Thank you all for your help in giving the Canal its spring cleaning and making it a community asset.

The Central Bucks Bicycle Club Clean-Up Day crew had some furry helpers this year.

Anticipation

All signs indicate that some Delaware Canal waiting games are just about over.

The major flood repair work, which includes areas from Easton to Solebury Township, has been divided into two projects. The bids for the first project that include the large break south of Easton were opened on March 21. Since this newsletter has an early deadline, please visit www.fodc.org - Breaking News for the results. If the contract award process goes smoothly, work should be underway in the Canal by July. The second flood repair project, which is termed the "structures" project, is due to go out for bids in April. With luck and determination, the Canal will be abuzz with repair activity later this year.

The flood repair work has taken what seems like forever to move forward. When one takes into consideration the number of government agencies involved in the approval of work on the Canal and the fact that their evaluation and approval processes are, for the most part, consecutive, not simultaneous, the length of time becomes more understandable. Understandable, but not likeable.

Construction on the Route 13 tunnels, which will carry Canal visitors under the busy, four lane highway north of Levittown Shopping Center, is due to start soon. PennDOT has incorporated the tunnel project as well as the repair of the water-carrying pipes into their much larger Route 13 Rehabilitation Project. This cooperative venture between PennDOT and DCNR is to be commended.

Work on the Canal prism in New Hope should allow the newly-repaired pump in Centre Bridge to do its job and fill the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in New Hope.

The seasonal State Park staff return to work at the end of March enabling the Park to undertake more projects. The Friends's Canal Action Team, Canal Tenders, and Clean-up Day volunteers are there to help.

Plain and simply, "Let's Do It."

March 26, 2013

The water level continues to rise in the Centre Bridge to New Hope section thanks to the pump and the rain/snow. The section is beginning to look like a canal should. Knock on wood.

The bids for the first part of the major flood repairs from Easton to Lumberville were opened today. We'll find out who the low bidder is as soon as the bids are certified.

March 13, 2013

The prism work in New Hope is done, some minor repairs to the pump are complete, and the pump has been turned on. The Canal seems to be filling nicely. Knock on wood.

February 20, 2013

Bi-State Construction, under contract to the State Park, has finished lining a section of the Canal north of Uhlerstown and is now working between Rabbit Run Bridge and Bridge Street in New Hope. They are "smoothing" the prism of the Canal to close cracks and stop leakage.

 

Canal Action Team

It's time to get to work! There's more than enough to be done along the Delaware Canal. True, much of it requires heavy equipment and expertise, but there also are tasks that can be tackled by mortal volunteers that will have real impact.

If you want to help get the Canal back in shape, the Friends' new Canal Action Team is waiting for you.

The plan is to have small (perhaps, sometimes large) groups of volunteers go out on the Canal on a regularly scheduled basis and undertake tasks such as cutting off the saplings that break up stone walls, clearing brush and downed limbs, removing large debris, maintaining signs, taking care of small problems before they become big ones.

The C.A.T.

Who:

Anyone who wants to and can be physically active.

When:

Saturday, April 13 at 9 a.m.

Where:

The Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge in the northern section of Washington -Crossing Historic Park, off River Road about two miles south of New Hope proper.

The Job:

Preparing the camelback bridge for re-painting.

Attire:

Dress for outdoor work - boots, gloves, and eye protection.

What to Bring:

Wire brushes, scrapers, putty knives, or any other equipment that you find useful.

The Plan:

If you are interested in being a part of the Canal Action Team, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org and give us your contact info and your preferred work locations (north, central, south). We'll then put together a list of possible crew members. To each, we'll send the final details about the work days. This notice will arrive by e-mail or phone. If you can help on one or all of the days, just reply.

The C.A.T. can help get the Canal back in shape and give you the opportunity to work with your fellow Friends.

****

December 27, 2012

There is water in the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in New Hope thanks to the pump and the rain.

 

December 14, 2012

Still "Hope-full" for Our Canal

Members and friends of the grass-roots community organization New Hope for Our canal have been watching closely as water driven by the Centre Bridge pump has slowly progressed toward New Hope. Two months after starting the pump, water literally inched southward, reaching the New Hope-Ivyland railyard just prior to the arrival of Super Storm Sandy.

Anticipating possible damage from Sandy, DCNR park personnel took the precaution of shutting the pump down. In that process, needed repairs to the pump's distribution pipe were identified and completed. With the pump idle, alarmed Canal watchers unexpectedly saw their hard-won water mysteriously recede to its starting point. Once the pumping process resumed water returned, adding another mystery by then reaching its previous southern edge in a mere four days.

The Canal water then advanced as far as Randolph Street (adjacent to the old Eagle Firehouse) in New Hope before retreating somewhat. DCNR is currently trying to identify the cause of this erratic progress. One possible reason for the "snail's pace" may be the dryness of the Canal prism. The Canal bed needs to absorb water and become saturated before the water can rise sufficiently to flow. In addition vegetation, prism depth variation and roots also interfere with water movement. Park staff members have been clearing downed trees and debris while monitoring the situation, and are actively testing for any possible prism faults; thus far no specific problems have been pinpointed.

If the Canal bed remains sound, Park Manager Rick Dalton has stated that he and his staff will keep the pump operating as long as there is no threat to the pump from winter weather or ice. In addition, New Hope for Our Canal members will continue to pursue their parallel objective of Canal beautification by participating in volunteer clean-up projects in cooperation with the Friends of the Delaware Canal. New Hope for Our Canal has already invested in extensive vegetation removal, has funded flower planting at the Locktender's House, has paid to replace stolen electric cable and has contributed monies to complete the Centre Bridge pump installation.

Perhaps the organization's most noteworthy improvement accomplishment to date has been to partner with the Friends of the Delaware Canal to repair the deteriorated stone wall on the New Hope towpath. Thanks to the T&T Tree service and the skilled craftsmen of Hertz and Dunn Masonry, the crumbling and vandalized wall is once again complete, safe and beautiful to behold. The members of New Hope for our Canal continue to appreciate the support of our community and will keep working to reach our goal of water from Centre Bridge to New Hope.

Submitted by Judith Franlin for New Hope for Our Canal

November 28, 2012

The leading edge of the pumped water has reached Randolph Street in New Hope proper.

November 16, 2012

The pump at Centre Bridge was turned back on yesterday at noon. In less than 24 hours, the leading edge of the water is past Phillips' Mill.

The Friends have raised $2500 to help the Park pay for a tree service to remove the largest of the fallen trees. Additional contributions are welcome.

November 13, 2012

The Park staff is making progress in clearing downed trees from the towpath. A tree service will have to be hired to handle the largest of the trees.

The pump at Centre Bridge is shut down. A pipe connection was dislodged during the storm and must be repaired before restarting. The pump repair company has been summoned.

November 2, 2012

Superstorm Sandy brought down lots and lots of trees, but the Canal experienced no major structural problems. The roof of the Virginia Forrest restroom was damaged. Considering the size of the storm, the scope of the damage is not bad at all.

October 1, 2012

The pumped water has made it into New Hope Borough and is headed for the train station.

September 21, 2012

The leading edge of the water being pumped into the Canal at Centre Bridge has reached Rabbit Run bridge. This photo was taken this morning looking north from the bridge.

September 20, 2012

The temporary trench that allowed Lehigh River water to flow past the wall break south of Easton didn't survive the heavy rains on Tuesday night.

The area from Easton to Upper Black Eddy will no longer have water. The trench will not be repaired because the Canal was scheduled to be dewatered by October 1st. This action is necessary to prepare for the major flood repairs that are scheduled to begin in late winter or spring. The restrictions concerning the habitat of the red-bellied turtles require that the only time that the Canal can be intentionally dewatered is between July 15 and October 1 when the turtles are neither wintering or reproducing. If the repairs are to begin in spring 2013, the dewatering must take place now.

September 19, 2012

The lead edge of the pumped water from Centre Bridge has made its way to a point about halfway between the Route 202 bridge and Rabbit Run bridge. The rain helped.

***

 

Never a Dull Moment

One can never underestimate the challenges and pleasures that the Delaware Canal can provide.

From the North:

The Friends are keeping a close eye on a study to determine the feasibility of partially removing the Easton Dam. The purpose of the removal would be to facilitate the passage of fish between the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. (The existing fish ladder at the Forks of the Delaware site has been deemed ineffective.) This study is of great importance to the Friends because the Easton Dam raises the Lehigh River to a level where it can serve as the primary water supply to the Delaware Canal. (The Dam also feeds the Lehigh Canal farther upstream.) After attending an August meeting where intermediate findings were presented, it would seem that the removal project will be far too expensive and complicated to execute, but we will remain very vigilant as the final report is completed and very vocal if the Canal is jeopardized in any way.

The trench dug through the area of the major Canal break south of Easton is holding up well, and water is flowing past it. Unfortunately, the trench capacity isn't enough to handle a full head of water from the feeder gates on the Lehigh River. This reduced flow is inhibiting the water from flowing much past Upper Black Eddy.

The Canal was picture perfect at Wy-Hit-Tuk Park at the end of August - full of water, banks mowed, birds singing, kids fishing. There's hope!

The expectation of having the major flood repair projects commence this fall has vanished. The PA DCNR Bureau of Facility Design and Construction cannot put the projects out to bid until the completed Project Work Sheets are received from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The work sheets are overdue, and the Friends has enlisted Congressman Fitzpatrick's help in expediting them. Given that there is a required 90-day period between bidding and the start of construction, it would seem that early Spring 2013 is the likely start.

The pump that supplies Delaware River water for the Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in the New Hope section is back in operation with funding help from the community group New Hope for Our Canal, which is working in partnership with the Friends. New Hope for Our Canal stepped up when it was discovered that the wiring and other electrical apparatus had been stolen.

Pumping at Centre Bridge started in earnest on August 28, and the leading edge of the water was north of Phillips' Mill on September 4. The rewatering process has been slow because the Canal bed is especially sunbaked in the area north of Phillips' Mill, and there is a bit of an increase in elevation. The Park staff did dye testing for leaks in the area, and there were none in evidence. They also scraped a section of the bed to facilitate water flow. The Centre Bridge to New Hope section has been without water for a long time, so patience will be a virtue as we wait for the Canal to fill.

The Ferry Street bridge over the Canal in New Hope reopened on August 23. The 58-foot-long bridge carries two lanes of traffic and has pedestrian walkways on each side. It replicates the look of other area canal bridges with faux camelback trusses, timber railings, and abutments faced with stone. The $1.5 million project was undertaken by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) using the Keystone Fund, which is generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax.

The water levels in the Canal south of Odette's New Hope have been reasonably high thanks to the August rains. The Canal is fed through an inlet to the Delaware River, so the level of the Canal falls with the River.

The Route 13 pedestrian tunnel project, years in the planning, has been put out for bids by PennDOT. The project, located just north of the Bucks County Courier Times building in Tullytown, was engineered by PA DCNR , but responsibility for construction was taken over by PennDOT as a part of its larger Route 13 improvement project. The tunnel will alleviate one of the safety hazards/trail obstructions on the southern end of the Canal.

Bi-State Construction Co. was awarded a contract to reline the Delaware Canal in the Green Lane area of Bristol Township. The $164,655 project will stop leakage into adjoining properties.

These are the current highlights of what's happening along the Canal. As you can tell, it needs its Friends.

***

 

September 17, 2012

After "rushing" through Phillips' Mill, the pumped water is poking along on its way to the bridge at Canal Park, but it's almost there.

September 13, 2012

The pumped water coming into the Canal at Centre Bridge has made past the bridge at Phillips' Mill and is headed for Solebury's Canal Park.

September 7, 2012

Using a Gradall, the Park staff has scraped the bottom of the Canal prism north of Phillips' Mill to facilitate water flow. The soil in this section is very, very dry, so it is taking a while for the pumped water to saturate the ground. The good news is that the leading edge of the water continues to move southward and has almost reached Phillips' Mill proper. Keep those fingers and toes crossed.

September 4, 2012

The vegetation taming is done between Centre Bridge and Bridge Street in New Hope. The pump was turned back on last Tuesday, and the Canal is refilling slowly but surely. The leading edge of the water is north of Phillips' Mill. Cross your fingers and toes.

August 28, 2012

The Park staff is in the process of vegetation taming between Centre Bridge and New Hope. This photo was taken north of Phillips' Mill this morning.

August 24, 2012

The pump at Centre Bridge is not operating. The Canal is being dried out a bit to facilitate vegetation taming which will take place next week.

August 23, 2012

The Ferry Street Bridge in New Hope was opened officially today. One less obstacle to watering the Centre Bridge to New Hope section.

August 15, 2012

The water coming from the pump at Centre Bridge has almost made it as far as Phillips' Mill.

In the north, the Lehigh River water has progressed to Uhlerstown.

August 7, 2012

The pump at Centre Bridge has been turned back on, and water has made it as far as the second bridge south of Centre Bridge.

And in the north, water is flowing south of Lodi since a gravel bar was removed at the Jugtown Hill Road Bridge construction site.

July 12, 2012

There have been some minor holes to fill and structures to fix along the way, but the Lehigh River water has made to the wastegate at Lodi - 17.1 miles from Easton. Not too bad considering the heat, lack of rain, and partially opened River gate.

And there is good cause to believe that the pump in Centre Bridge will be turned on byJuly 23rd.

PLUGGING AWAY

Here we are in the midst of another hot, dry summer - just the time when a fully watered Canal would be so welcome. Some significant progress has been made toward that goal, but a full head of water won't be flowing until the major flood repairs in the north and central sections of the Canal are completed next year.

Here's the progress report starting in the north:

The Park undertook a mammoth earth moving project south of Easton to temporarily reinforce the towpath bank where a huge break occurred during last year's storms. With the bank stabilized, a trench was dug so that water can be run through the area.

When the trench was finished, the Park partially opened the gates in Easton to allow Lehigh River water to flow into the Canal. The gates cannot be fully opened because that volume of water would damage the newly stabilized bank.

As of the second week in July, the Lehigh river water had reached Upper Black Eddy. As minor problems have materialized, they have been repaired. The hope is to get water much farther south to, at least, keep vegetation at bay.

The Bridgeton Hill Road Bridge replacement project in Upper Black Eddy is due to get underway before October 1st. The Canal's water will be run in pipes through the construction area near Homestead Store.

The Park reestablished the access path down to the Delaware River at Centre Bridge and removed an enormous silt bar from the Canal. This work paved the way for the installation of the pump that supplies Delaware River water to the section of the canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in New Hope. The community initiative, New hope for Our Canal, has been successful in raising funds to pay the monthly electric bill for the pump and is also helping the Park pay for the replacement of the pump-related copper wiring that was stolen.

In New Hope Borough proper, the Ferry Street Bridge replacement is nearly complete, the wall/bank stabilization north of Mechanic Street is finished, the Canal has been lined with Bentomat from Mechanic Street to the Aquetong Creek aqueduct, and various stone and concrete wall repairs have been done.

With all these projects finished, it is anticipated that the pump at Centre Bridge will be installed on July 9th and started shortly thereafter to water the section for test purposes. If all goes well, New Hope will have water in August. Now if we could make the cattails miraculously disappear.

And on to our perennial summertime problem. the southern end of the Canal receives its water from the Delaware River through an inlet located behind the former Odette's property in New Hope. In the summer when the River level drops, the level of the Canal drops. If the River level falls below the elevation of the inlet opening, the Canal loses its water supply completely. The Park has been very diligent in keeping the inlet clear of silt and debris, so we are depending on additional rainfall for a full Canal from New Hope to Morrisville. (Of course, we want just the right amount of rain.)

The Canal is being deliberately dewatered south of Route 1 in Morrisville in preparation for the Conrail and Route 13 Tunnel projects, and the Green Lane relining project. The Route 13 project was to have been put out to bid in July, but the schedule most probably has changed because it was combined with PennDOT's larger Route 13 improvement project. The Conrail Tunnel is currently scheduled to be put out to bid in September. A section of the Canal between Airport Road and Green Lane soon will be relined because of leakage that affects the Green Lane roadway. The early dewatering was necessitated by the restrictions concerning disturbance of the habitat of the threatened red-bellied turtles.

A break in a culvert pipe under the canal north of Haines Road in Bristol Township drained the Canal earlier this year and must be repaired while the tunnel projects are underway.

The Borough of Bristol continues to pump water into the Lagoon at Jefferson Avenue to keep the "pond" alive, healthy, and attractive as a local park.

And that's the state of the Canal from north to south. The Friends continue to advocate, nudge, and help move things along.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the Friends' plea to contact their State legislators about reinstating the Keystone Fund to the 2012-2013 State Budget. The Keystone Fund is back in the Budget intact. Please thank your legislators for their support of this vital funding source for State Park improvements.

July 3, 2012

The Lehigh River water has made it south as far as Mulligan's Bridge in Bridgeton Township - 14.4 miles from Easton. The water is flowing, but it doesn't have a lot of push.

June 26, 2012

We've got some water in the north! The gates in Easton have been partially opened allowing Lehigh River water to flow into the Canal. The water has reached Lock 21 in Durham and is working its way southward. The trench through the bank break cannot accommodate a full head of water, so the water levels will be lower than they are supposed to be and will decrease in height as they go south.

Lock 21 in Durham - photo taken by Carole Mebus on June 25, 2012.

June 6, 2012

The trench that will carry Lehigh River water southward past the break in Easton in finished. A huge undertaking! The park is letting a bit of Lehigh River water flow, but the contractors working on I-78 have to install pipes through their canal crossing before the water can really be allowed to flow. Expectations are that significant flow will begin next week.

May 25, 2012

Progress! The park staff is almost finished digging a trench that will carry Lehigh River water southward past the major break in the canal bank south of Easton. In New Hope the relining is done as is the wall/bank work near Mechanic Street.

May 7, 2012

No trees are being destroyed for the relining project in New Hope.

April 16, 2012
We need rain - slow, steady, and just the right amount. The Delaware River is low, thus the Canal south of Odette's in New Hope, is getting lower because it is supplied with water through an inlet from the Delaware River.

March 14, 2012
The 300,000 daffodil bulbs planted by Bucks Beautiful last fall are blooming. Get out on the towpath and catch them in their glory.

February 28, 2012
FEMA has come and gone. DCNR engineers are working on the flood repair plans and specs in preparation for bidding.

February 17, 2012
The FEMA field assessment CREWS did arrive on February 13th and have been working all week. They should be finished today.

February 7, 2012
The FEMA scout arrived at the Delaware Canal State Park today to assess the task. The field assessment crew will arrive on February 13th to begin what is expected to be a week-long project. Let's hope that the weather cooperates.

February 3, 2012
DCNR has been notified that FEMA representatives will arrive at the Delaware Canal State Park during the week of February 13th to begin the flood damage verification process.

In the Year Ahead
After being punched again and again by weather "events" in 2011, we are all ready to make some progress along the Canal in 2012.

Here is what is happening:

The engineers from DCNR's Bureau of Facility Design and Construction and the Park staff have surveyed the damages caused by the March 2011 flood, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee and have prepared assessments. The engineers have also been working on the repair plans. Fortunately, the task is less laborious this time around because, in some cases, the 2004, 2005, and 2006 flood repair plans can be referenced. Since the repair work may be eligible for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funding, DCNR now is waiting for FEMA representatives to tour the Canal and verify the damage assessments. FEMA is expected in January. After the FEMA verifications, plans and specifications will be put out to bid, and, with luck and persistence, the major repair work will be underway in the summer.

The Park staff plans to dig a trench past the river wall break south of Easton in order to supply some Lehigh River water to the northern end of the Canal until the major repair work begins.

DCNR is investigating and instituting specification changes that can make repaired areas endure longer and be more visitor-friendly. One example is the change in specifications for the materials used in the "stabilized turf" towpath trail surface. The new mix will contain smaller diameter stone and more soil, thus creating a more stable towpath with a smoother surface for biking and hiking.

The replacement of the Ferry Street Bridge over the Canal in New Hope got started in December. This project is anticipated to be completed in July. While the bridge project is underway, DCNR will line the Canal from Mechanic Street to the Aquetong Creek aqueduct and repair the wall collapse at the Canal Street development. When the relining and wall projects are done, the Park will pump water into the section to determine whether leakage is still a problem.

The various trail obstruction projects in the southern end of the Canal continue to progress. PennDOT has assumed control of the Route 13 tunnel project because the agency plans to incorporate the replacement of culvert pipes, which carry the Canal's water, with the construction of the tunnel. When the culverts are replaced and the tunnel built, water flow and pedestrian safety will be very much improved. It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2012.

Conditions at the second Route 13 trail obstruction north of Green Lane may also be improved as part of the larger Route 13 project. Plans are in the making to improve conditions for pedestrians who need to cross the highway in order to get back on the towpath. The plan calls for an improved shoulder on Route 13 from the point at which the Canal goes under the highway to Green Lane. At the Green Lane intersection, various signalization and marking solutions will be employed to create a safe passageway for canal visitors.

The construction of the tunnel through the Conrail embankment south of Morrisville is temporarily delayed while additional funding is sought.

With foresight in 2001, the Friends had a towpath trail detour plan developed by Castle Valley Consultants of New Britain. The time has finally come to improve the detour path around the Tyburn Road obstruction. This move to action can be accounted for by the designation of the towpath from Bristol to Morrisville as part of the East Coast Greenway. The Friends have supplied the Castle Valley detour plan to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, which is seeking major Greenway funding.

Gene Comoss retired as Director of the Bureau of Facility Design and Construction last year. Gene never failed to try to do what was best for the Canal and was an excellent advocate. We shall miss him in Harrisburg, but he promises to remain involved. At the Annual Meeting in November we welcomed the new Director, Alfred Uzokwe. Alfred is already schooled in Canal projects and issues, so he hit the ground running.
And so it goes.

 

December 5, 2011 -
The reconstruction of the Ferry Street Bridge across the Canal in New Hope began today. The contractor is Loftus Construction, the company that accomplished the rehabilitation of Lock 11. The contract period extends for 240 days, but we're rooting for completion by June - or sooner.

November 18, 2011 -
The crews from Gale Nursery have the 300,000 daffodil bulbs planted. What fast work!

November 9, 2011 -
Workers from Gale Nursery have begun planting daffodil bulbs along the Delaware Canal from Riegelsville to Bristol. The project, spearheaded by Bucks Beautiful, has the goal of planting 300,000 bulbs at congregation areas along the Canal . What a sight it will be next spring. To support the effort, visit the Bucks Beautiful website and find out how to contribute.

November 2, 2011 -
The Canal is being dewatered south of Route 1 in Morrisville in anticipation of the start of construction on the tunnel under Route 13 north of the Levittown Shopping Center next spring. Regulations to protect the threatened red-bellied turtles state that construction cannot take place between May 1 and October when the turtles are nesting and hatching. So the water must be drained now, in order to make the turtles find other, more hospitable habitats than the construction area.

October 11, 2011 -
The wall collapse just north of the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area has been repaired using the stone that washed into the Canal during Tropical Storm Lee. The status of the towpath from Lock 13 (Mountainside Inn) in Point Pleasant to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area north of Centre Bridge has been upgraded to closed only to bicyclists. The towpath surface in the areas of Lumberville and Devil's Half Acre is still not bikeable.

September 26, 2011 -
Two sinkholes developed in the bottom of the Canal between the Levittown Shopping Center and Haines Road, and the water has drained out of the Canal. The cause of the sinkholes is being investigated, but they may be the result of a culvert collapse.

September 14, 2011 -
The Delaware Canal towpath is closed to visitors from the Forks of the Delaware (Fishladder) in Easton to Wy-Hit-Tuk Park. The towpath from Lock 13 (Mountainside Inn) in Point Pleasant to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area north of Centre Bridge is also closed.

September 13, 2011 -
The 9-11 Memorial Bench honoring Lorraine Grace Bay was washed away in the Tropical Storm Lee flood. It was located near the towpath north of the Soldiers" Graves in northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The bench is probably not too far away, so if you happen to come upon it, please notify the Friends at 215-862-2021 or friends@fodc.org.

September 12, 2011 -
Here we are post Tropical Storm Lee. The Park staff is currently assessing the damage. From initial field reports, it seems as if Lee primarily piled on to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. There is at least one major problem. A 50-foot section of River wall collapsed south of the Easton sewage treatment plant, and a huge gravel bar has been deposited in the Canal. Water cannot be run past this area, so there will be no significant amounts of water in the Canal from Easton to New Hope until the repair work is undertaken. This work will have to be put out to bid and completed by an outside contractor, so it will take months.

September 6, 2011 -
The water level from New Hope south is low because a piece of wood lodged underneath one of the Bowman's Hill waste gates. The Park staff was unable to remove it, and a contractor is coming in with equipment to do the job as the rain allows.

August 30, 2011 -
Here’s the scoop on the post-Irene Canal conditions as we know them from the Park Manager, e-mails from various people, and Susan Taylor's observations.
The crest of the flood was much the same as it was last March. Given the much higher predictions, we are very lucky.

The areas that eroded last March were eroded a bit more this time, but nothing dramatic.

The collapsed wall area just north of the Virginia Forrest Rec Area eroded another 1 to 2 ft., but the bank is still holding. This could change as the River level drops.

Streams that flow directly into the Canal have deposited very large stone and silt bars/dams.

Towpath erosion adjacent to the Bowman’s Hill waste gates is anticipated since the water flow from Pidcock Creek was fierce.

Several properties at Bridge 5, as well as Bridge 5 Lane, in Smithtown were damaged by water that overflowed the Canal.

The Kings Island property that lies to the east of the canal bridge between the Kinsman Company and Applejack’s properties in Point Pleasant was damaged by water that overflowed the Canal.

There are trees, from huge and small, down all along the Canal. So many.

August 26, 2011 -
We're doing our very best "Irene, go out to sea" dance, and hope that you are, too.

In keeping with historical practices and the relatively new Delaware Canal State Park policy and procedure, water will be kept in the Canal during high water events. An already full Canal prevents the destructive scouring that occurs when flood waters rush in and out of the prism. And, in the overall scheme of things, the amount of water that an empty Canal would handle is negligible- much like setting an empty fish tank outside in the rain in hopes of keeping your basement dry.

The exceptions to the "water-in" policy are those areas that are prone to bank overflow, such as Yardley Borough, Smithtown, and Uhlerstown. Those places will be closely monitored, and water levels will be adjusted as necessary.

The Park has increased its staffing for this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Ten management and maintenance staff will be on duty.

August 23, 2011 -
No reports of earthquake damage - knock on wood!
A sinkhole developed by the bypass at Lock 7 in Yardley. The water level will be dropped in the area while the situation is investigated.

August 22, 2011 -
Flowing water from the north has made it to Lumberville.

August 17, 2011 -
The drop gate at Groundhog Lock is back in place, and water will be flowing again from the north either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

August 16, 2011 afternoon -
Water will not be flowing south from Easton due to a glitch with the drop gate at Locks 22/23 aka Groundhog Lock aka Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area. The Park staff will be addressing the problem tomorrow and, with luck, the drop gate will be back in its proper position and water flowing from Easton by the end of the day.

August 16, 2011 -
The tree root ball has been removed from the Bowman's Hill waste gate and the water level in the Canal south of Odette's has been restored.

Water from the north is running through Uhlerstown and there is a good head of water south to Bridge 2 north of Point Pleasant. The Canal south of Bridge 2 isn't filling as quickly as anticipated, given the recent rainfall, and the Park staff is investigating.

August 15, 2011 -
The water level of the Delaware River is no longer a problem. Funny how a deluge can cure that.

The rushing water caused a large tree root ball to become lodged in one of the Bowman's Hill waste gates. The Park staff tried to remove it this morning without success. The water pressure holding it in place is too great.

Unfortunately, the water level in the Canal will have to be dropped temporarily to get the tree out. Fortunately, the River will fill it back up.
(This is another lesson in how important it is to keep the Canal clear of debris. Branches and vegetation thrown in the Canal don't disappear; they just make their way to the next Canal structure and clog things up.)

The second relining project in Uhlerstown was completed last week. Water will be reintroduced soon.

August 3, 2011 -
The level of the Delaware River is again dropping. The River is the primary water source for the Canal south of Odette's in New Hope. As the River level drops, the Canal level drops. Periodic, steady rain is the best remedy.
The second relining project in Uhlerstown is expected to be underway during the week of August 8th.

Blows to the Mid-Section
In spite of the damage caused by the moderate Delaware River flooding in March, the Canal has made some significant progress during the last three months.

The southern section of the Canal, from the river inlet in New Hope to Bristol, has been consistently watered. The levels may rise and fall, but there is water all along that stretch. In fact, water has been streaming out of the inverted siphon pipe that carries the Canal's water underneath the Levittown Shopping Center -- a sight not seen in years and years.

Parts of the towpath south of Easton were severely eroded, but the Canal is still capable of carrying water and is doing so.

In order to keep water in the Canal, the bank blowout in Upper Black Eddy was targeted for immediate repair, and the work was accomplished expeditiously.
The Park staff has been able to accomplish some of the towpath repair work.
The broken bypass pipe at Lock 20 near Kintnersville has been relined. Water can flow again.

When the basic repairs were completed in June, all waste gates were closed and Lehigh River water was allowed to flow south. The water made it all the way past Point Pleasant before chronic leakage problems in Upper Black Eddy and Uhlerstown caused the Park to cut back the flow volume. The water made it miles farther than it did last summer. The Upper Black Eddy problems are being investigated, and the Park has been authorized to purchase more Bentomat liner for Uhlerstown.

Note: It is unrealistic to expect the Delaware Canal to be perfectly water tight, particularly in spots where natural drainage was built into the system. Examples are the drainage ditches that often occur at the bottom of the towpath slope. When these ditches are filled in by unknowing property owners, the water simply pops up somewhere else, usually creating problems.
Excellent news is that savings from the prior major flood repair projects can be used to fund the repairs necessitated by the March flood. Plans are being completed and will be put out to bid by this Fall.

Now comes the BUT. The middle of the Canal continues to suffer for many reasons. The main one is that the Lehigh River water from the north has not been able to make its way to the middle. In past years, water was pumped into the Canal at Centre Bridge to supply the Centre Bridge to New Hope stretch. Not only did the pump break down last year, but there are no funds to operate it even if it were in condition to be put back in place. The Rabbit Run Bridge over the Canal north of New Hope is being replaced, and there is no canal boat ride concession in operation, so there is less urgency about getting water back.
The Devil's Half Acre and Lumberville areas were hit hard by the March flooding. These areas were the last ones to undergo the major flood repairs, and the weather was very dry last summer, thus the stabilized turf towpath surface did not have enough time to compact and grow grass before the next flood hit. The March flood did prove that grass growth is a vital factor in maintaining the integrity of the towpath surface. The areas where grass was not well established suffered in the flood. Devil's Half Acre and Lumberville were among them.

A stone wall collapsed north of Mechanic Street in New Hope. This problem will have to addressed before a head of water can be reintroduced. Then there are the infamous New Hope leaks. Repair work has been done, but there hasn't been enough water to test the repairs.

The Canal is like a boxer who is being punched again and again in his midsection. His head isn't in the best shape, but it's still working, and his legs are even better.

The good news is that the Canal's opponent is pretty puny and can be worn out. In comparison to what the Canal went through after the floods of 2004, 2005, and 2006, its current problems are predominately minor. They can be overcome with perseverance and ingenuity, and those we have and can summon even more.

***

The Delaware Canal State Park Rangers have made the following postings along the towpath for visitor information and safety. Please call the Park Office at 610-982-5560 for any additional information.

• Towpath from Easton to Wy-Hit-Tuk Park posted "Warning- Trail CLOSED due to flooding" and "No Trespassing."

• Towpath from Wy-Hit-Tuk Park to Brown's Terrace posted "Warning - Hazardous Conditions due to flooding. No Bicycles.'"

• Towpath from the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area in Raubsville to Mueller's Stop Gate posted "Warning - Hazardous Conditions due to flooding. No Bicycles."

• Towpath from Lock 13 (Mountainside Inn) in Point Pleasant to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area north of Centre Bridge posted "Warning - Hazardous Conditions due to flooding. No Bicycles."

Delaware Canal State Park Manager's Report
March 28 - NEWS! For the first time in many years, the Canal has a full head of water from New Hope to Bristol!

On March 7th we experienced a high-water event from a significant amount of rain the previous day. The river reached flood stage and overtopped into the Canal in several locations from north of Centre Bridge to Easton. On March 11th, the River flooded again. This time the crest level was significantly higher and the river also overtopped the Canal south of New Hope this time. The good news is that there is nowhere near the damage that we had in 2004, 2005, 2006, however there are a couple of sections of the towpath that are closed due to either breach or severe washout. The most notable are a breach in Bridgeton Township, a wall collapse in the Waterworks in New Hope, and a wall collapse at Lock 12 in Lumberville. The water level made it up to the door handle on the comfort station at the Teddy Roosevelt Recreation Area, and the Fish Ladder in Easton was totally inundated.

Here is the list of damages:

• Easton Fish Ladder viewing well/chamber completely flooded.
• Damage to the towpath trail surface and canal slope between Easton and Wy-Hit-Tuk Park. Trail surface eroded to base material.
• Eastern miter gate on Sewer Treatment Plant stop gate has broken free and dislodged from its hinge pin position.
• Damage to trail surface From Wy-Hit-Tuk Park to Brown's Terrace..
• Damage to towpath trail surface and canal slope south from the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area to Mueller's Stop Gate. .
• Debris on overflow north of Rocky Falls (Mueller's). Erosion. .
• Slope sloughing south of Lock 20 at the Nockamixon Cliffs.
• Significant break in the towpath embankment south of Mulligan's Bridge in Upper Black Eddy. (This break is inland.)
• Damage to trail surface from the Mountainside Inn in Point Pleasant to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area.
• Significant washout at Devil's Half Acre between Point Pleasant and Lumberville. .
• Towpath washout behind Black Bass Hotel/pedestrian bridge.
• The berm-side wall of Lock 12 in Lumberville collapsed.
• Approximately 1/4 mile of towpath surface washout near Green Hill Road.
• Towpath washout just south of Delaware Quarry.
• Overflow south of Delaware Quarry covered with debris.
• River wall and towpath damage north of the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area.
• Overwashing of trail surface from Odette's in New Hope south to Bowman's Hill. DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED; TOWPATH IS OPEN.
• Towpath eroded at the Bowman's Hill waste gates. DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPAIRED; TOWPATH IS OPEN

d
Damage assessment continues and repair specifications are being prepared.

June 8, 2011 – The bank break repair in Upper Black Eddy is nearly finished.


Towpath wash-out at Devil's Half Acre south of Point Pleasant. 3/13/2011

Lock 12 looking north
Looking north from Lock 12 in Lumberville - 3/13/2011.
Photo by Sally Getchell.

Towpath washout south of Easton - 3/13/2011. Photo by Carole Mebus.

Towpath still underwater north of Mueller’s in Raubsville - 3/13/2011.
Photo by Carole Mebus.

The towpath north of Mueller’s in the midst of the flood - 3/12/2011 at 5 p.m. Photo by Carole Mebus.

The towpath bank break south of Mulligan’s Bridge, Upper Black Eddy - 3/12/2011. Photo by Peter Rosswaag.

The bridge over the short aqueduct at Fry’s Run, Easton - 3/11/2011.
Photo by Carole Mebus.

Looking north from the aqueduct at Fry’s Run, Easton - 3/11/2011.
Photo by Carol Mebus.

The Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area between Raubsville and
Riegelsville under water - 3/11/2011. Photo by Carol Mebus.