Delaware Canal State Park – Friends of the Delaware Canal

Canal Clean-Up Day

Mark Your Calendars

All 58.9 miles of the Delaware Canal are ready for the Friends’ annual spring cleaning on April 4, 2020. Even though we always opt for water in the Canal, this year’s lack of water in stretches can be an advantage for cleaning purposes. All the better to get to the trash that is usually underwater or out of reach.

Point Pleasant Clean-up Day — Clean-up Day at Point Pleasant

Holding with tradition, the Canal will be divided into approximately 25 Work Areas, and volunteer coordinators will handle the logistics for each of the areas. Both on-land and by-boat clean-ups are encouraged.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer either as a worker or as a community coordinator, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org. If you know of a group (civic, school, office, scout…) that may be able to participate, let us know.

The Clean-Up Day Work Areas will be listed in the spring issue of Canal News, included in Events on www.fodc.org, posted on the Friends of the Delaware Canal Facebook page, and sent out to our e-mail contact list.

Last year more than 320 volunteers helped out with Canal Clean-Up efforts. This year, let’s try for 350. Many hands make light work — and more fun.

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.

Canal Drawdown Begins on Monday, Sept. 26

Water level in the Canal will be lowered in several areas of Delaware Canal State Park beginning on Monday, September 26. The drawdown will allow for preventive maintenance, inspections and several small repair projects. Large stretches of the Canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that rewatering will begin on November 1.

Areas affected will include:

Raubsville: Smith’s Bridge (Woody’s Bridge)
Raubsville: Lock 22/23 (Groundhog Lock)
Solebury Township: Lower Limeport Bridge
Solebury Township: Bowman’s Hill
Yardley Borough: Lock 5
Bristol Township: Airport Road

The full text of the announcement from Joshua S. Swartley, Park Manager, is below:

Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on September 26, 2016. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventative maintenance, inspections, and to complete several small repair projects.

Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Smith’s Bridge (Woody’s Bridge) in the Raubsville area, Lock 22/23 (Groundhog Lock) in the Raubsville area, Lower Limeport Bridge in the Solebury Township area, the Bowman’s Hill area, the Lock 5 area in Yardley Borough, and in the Airport Road area of Bristol Township.

Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that the canal will be re-watered in the beginning of November. 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 15th and October 1st, 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 turtles, fish, and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of the canal with low water.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal please contact the park office for assistance.

Sincerely.

Joshua S. Swartley
Park Manager

Canal Clean-Up Day

Canal Clean-Up Day

Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal

Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal

September 20, 2019

Canal Drawdown Begins on Monday, Sept. 26

Canal Drawdown Begins on Monday, Sept. 26

Contact Us

Help the Canal

Get Email Updates

Menu