Breaking News & Updates
Towpath to be Closed at Scudder’s Falls Bridge Project
Wednesday, November 6
24/7 TRAIL CLOSURE: The towpath is closed in the area of I-95/I-295, Scudder Falls Bridge, beginning Wednesday November 6 and lasting roughly 2 weeks. Contractors for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) working on the interstate bridge will be demolishing the old span over the Canal, which will require day and night closure of the towpath below. This section WILL be closed over the weekend of November 9 and 10, and possibly November 16 and 17. We will update this closure notice once the work is complete and the trail is reopened. For additional information please visit the DRJTBC website at www.drjtbc.org/project/
Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal
September 20, 2019
From the Delaware Canal State Park – Devin Buzard, Park Manager
Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on October 7, 2019. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventive maintenance, inspections, and to complete several large repair projects.
Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Lock 22/23 (Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area) in Raubsville, Fry’s Run Aqueduct in Williams Township, Tinicum Aqueduct in Tinicum Township, Thompson Neely Historic Camelback Bridge in the Bowman’s Hill area, and Canal prisim repair near Airport Road in Bristol Towship.
Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until water can be reintroduced where possible as projects are completed. Sections of the canal from New Hope south are dependent on higher river levels for re-watering and may take longer to refill. Currently, water levels in the southern portion of the canal are extremely low, and, in some areas, non-existent due to the lack of water at the New Hope inlet.
Drawdown of the canal must take place between July 15 and October 15 due to the regulations established by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to protect the imperiled eastern redbelly turtle. During the drawdown period, park staff will be on site to remove and relocate any fish and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of canal with low water. Public assistance in locating stranded fish is appreciated.
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal, please contact the park office at 610-982-5560 for assistance.
Water Levels Low from New Hope South to Bristol
September 4, 2019
The level of the Delaware River has dropped below the level of the New Hope inlet, which is located near the developing River House at Odette’s site. When this happens the Canal is water starved, since the primary water supply for the entire southern end of the Canal is the New Hope inlet.
Towpath Re-opened
July 24, 2019
The towpath has been re-opened from Mile 31 on the north end of Lumberville to Mile 32.3 on the south end of Point Pleasant. Repair work to the stone wall between the Delaware River and the Canal is now complete.
Towpath Closed from the north end of Lumberville to the south end of Point Pleasant
July 16, 2019
The towpath has been closed from Mile 31 on the north end of Lumberville to Mile 32.3 on the south end of Point Pleasant. The closure is due to repair work being done on the stone wall between the Delaware River and the Canal.
Water is Flowing Again in the North
June 19, 2019
Water is again flowing in the Canal southward from the gate at the Lehigh River in Easton. The stone wall repair at Lock 20 is complete enough to allow water to flow by.
Centre Bridge Pump has been Restarted
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
The State Park maintenance staff turned on the pump at Centre Bridge late this morning. The rewatering of the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in New Hope has begun.
Water Level in the North Lowered
April 15, 2019
The water level in the north end of the Canal has been lowered to facilitate the repair of a sinkhole at Lock 20 south of Kintnersville.
Towpath Trail from New Hope to Centre Bridge is Open
April 11, 2019
The Phillips’ Mill Bridge project is finished,and the towpath has reopened! The New Hope to Centre Bridge to Stockton to Lambertville to New Hope PA/NJ Loop is back.
POP-UPs This Winter
January 8, 2019
Last winter, bad weather foiled nearly all of our attempts to get outdoors on the Delaware Canal. So, this year, we’re going to try a different tactic.
Rather than scheduling dates in advance, we’re going to do POP-UP activities. When the forecasters say that the skies will be sunny, the temperatures above frostbite, and the winds relatively calm OR we have a perfect snowfall, we’ll send out a message letting you know what we’ll be doing and where we’ll be doing it along the Canal’s length. We might be hiking. We might be cross-country skiing or snowshoeing or maybe something completely new. (Wouldn’t it be great to have a skating party?)
We’ll be waiting for the right opportunities and will notify you with the details by sending an e-mail message and posting on the Events page and our Friends of the Delaware Canal Facebook page.
Here’s hoping for lots of fun on the Canal this winter.
