Canal News – Spring 2017

Woody’s Camelback Bridge is Restored, Thank You!

Final inspection day at Woody’s Camelback Bridge. From left to right – Randy Myer, contractor; Gene Gelfand, DCNR engineer and guardian or camelbacks; Bilal Baqui, DCNR engineer; Josh Swartley, Delaware Canal State Park Manager.

Twas the week before Christmas when contractor Randy Myer of R-Shell Exteriors arrived at the Woody’s Camelback Bridge work site south of Easton. Almost single-handedly, Randy assembled the cribbing to support the bridge structure, dismantled the deteriorated parts, and then undertook the carpentry and metal work necessary for the restoration. He worked while frigid winds blew and the ground was snow-covered all to accomplish his goal of having the job done by mid-February.

Woody’s Camelback Bridge is now the fifth of the six authentic camelback bridges to be restored. Randy did a masterful job! The work has been inspected and approved by the State engineers, and all that remains to be done is to stain the wood when it has aged a bit and the weather is warmer.

The restoration of this historic camelback bridge would not have been possible without the financial support of those Friends who made contributions specifically for this project during the Year-end Appeal. Our organization was able to pay for the labor costs solely using new contributions designated for Woody’s. The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources paid for the materials.

The Friends gratefully thank the 37 supporters of Woody’s Bridge, of whom the following made major donations:

The Goodfellow Fund

William Farkas

Robin and Jeff Connell

Judy and Joe Franlin

Carole and Fred Mebus

Barbara and Peter Sperry

Anonymous

AND thanks to the unprecedented generosity of all of our Year-End contributors, the Canal Improvement Fund now has a balance that beckons another project.

A historic, picturesque, and useful camelback bridge has been preserved and funds are available to tackle another improvement initiative. May the coming year continue on this positive track.

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At the Board Table

Board member Bill West left the Board in February because of his extended out-of-state time commitments. Always enthusiastic about Friends’ fund-raising events, Bill was a key player in making them happen. He was also tuned into what was happening along Canal because of his frequent and far-reaching walks along the towpath. Bill, we’ll miss you!

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All the members of the Board of Directors welcome your assistance questions, and advice. If you are interested in learning more about becoming involved in a Friends’ committee or becoming a member of the Board, please contact President Brett Webber at bw@bwadesign.com

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Park Manager’s Report

Well, I thought we were going to have an early spring this year, but Mother Nature proved me wrong. Nothing like a blizzard to test the endurance of our park maintenance crew.

The Lower Limeport Bridge replacement project in Solebury Township is progressing, but the contractor ran into a problem with the east bridge abutment. It was found that the abutment was built on top of rubble and loose soil instead of a concrete foundation. The contractor has demolished the old abutment and will be building a new concrete abutment with a concrete foundation to remedy the issue.

Design work still continues for the Phillips’ Mill bridge project, also in Solebury Township. The design consultant is still working with PennDOT to work through some issues and obtain a Highway Occupancy Permit.

Since my last Park Manager’s Report, we have had another stone wall collapse in New Hope by the Waterworks Condominium Association property. This collapse was a little larger than some of our previous wall repairs, but the Park was able to hire a contractor and make the repairs within a few weeks.

The Woody’s Camelback Bridge restoration and repair work has been completed. Thank you to the Friends of Delaware Canal for all of your help and fundraising efforts to make this project happen.

Finally, we have several sinkholes in the northern section of the canal that need to be repaired before we can start filling the Canal from the Lehigh River. The sinkholes are located by the Easton Sewage Treatment Plant, by the Blue Moon in Raubsville, between bridges 2 & 3 in Smithtown, and one just south of the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area. Our plan is to begin these repairs as soon as weather permits, and the towpath is in suitable condition to operate heavy equipment. We will then start adding water from north to south as we complete repairs.

Enjoy the Canal. Josh Swartley

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Oh Where, Oh Where Could that Little Egg Be

On April 9^th one dozen eggs will be hidden along the Canal from Easton to Bristol. Find one and your prize will be a Friends of the Delaware Canal t-shirt. Just follow the instructions inside the egg. Happy Hunting!

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Welcome, New Friends

Michele Becci

Elizabeth Bennett

Lou Bristol

Neal Carson

Barbara Dalglish

William R. Krisak

Tamara Lesh

Jean McBryar

Kent Nash

Peggy Navitski

Suzanne Stahl

Inge and Christoph Stannik

Dave Sutton

New Signs with Improved Maps

The PA/NJ Canal Loop Trail system is marked with 12 signs located near to where the towpaths and the river bridges intersect. The signs have been providing information to park visitors for more than 13 years. Age has caught up with the fiberglass imbedment panels, and most now are deteriorated to the point that they cannot be read.

A grant from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau (Visit Bucks County) has enabled the Friends to have new panels fabricated and to purchase a sign base to replace one that was damaged by a truck. The new panels will feature a new and improved map that provides more information about distances and graphics that are easily understood.

The PA/NJ Canal Loop Trails are increasingly popular because of their convenience. We thank Visit Bucks County for helping us to keep canal visitors informed and entice them to return to discover even more intriguing places.

Sharing the Towpath Trail

With Spring comes the return of lots of visitors to the Delaware Canal towpath. Please be mindful of your fellow Park users.

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A Revelation from the North

By Susan Taylor

Date: Saturday, March 4

Place: Rochester, NY

Event: The Canal Society of New York State Winter Symposium

Outside the temperature was 13 degrees and the wind was shipping, but inside the community college conference center sat 100+ devotees of the Erie Canal – the canal that “changed America.” – the canal that spurred Pennsylvania legislators and entrepreneurs to jump into canal building whole hog – the canal that today is a tourism and economic development powerhouse.

At 9 a.m. those 100+ people were ready to view my presentation about the Delaware Canal. I showed the Canal at its best and worst during my “Commerce, Calamities and Conservation” PowerPoint with particular emphasis on how and why the waterway was preserved, the Canal’s comeback after the four recent floods, and how the Friends of the Delaware Canal have influenced the future of the Canal.

Why was I invited to speak? I was told that there were many small organizations under the Society’s umbrella that could learn from what the Friends have accomplished and that my program might be the inspiration for a field trip in 2018.

The presentation went well. There were ahhs when particularly beautiful photos of the Canal were projected, gasps at the extent of the flood damage, and questions at the end.

But what happened after I left the podium sparked a revelation. At least six people came up to me to say how lucky we were to still have a real canal — one that has many of its historic structures, has its same dimensions, and looks to a good extent as it did in the 1800’s. To my mind, these were people who were dealing with a very superior canal, but still they envied what we have on the Delaware Canal.

The experience drove home the ever-present need to evaluate and then vigilantly guard what makes the Delaware Canal so special. Change can be stealthy and manifest itself in tiny, virtually unnoticeable increments. Each time that the silt in the bottom of the Canal is simply pulled to the bank and not removed, the capacity of the water channel decreases. The action doesn’t seem like much at the moment, but over time ….. Dramatic change can come cloaked in “necessity,” “economic feasibility,” and “redevelopment.”

Change is unremitting and often comes with excellent results, but we must be mindful not to lose the attributes of the Delaware Canal that make it special, loved, and even envied.

Sharing Expertise

History and recreation do mix. Canal Walkers visit the Thompson Neely House.

Pennsylvania is blessed with a wealth of parks, forests, and historic places. A visit to a Commonwealth-owned property will, in nearly every case, involve both an experience with nature and a contact with a historic place. For instance, the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park has within its boundaries the Thompson-Neely House and Soldiers’ Graves as well as picnic pavilions, a Boy Scout camping ground, not to mention the Delaware Canal running through it.

Good administration of Pennsylvania’s diverse resources takes a wide range of expertise. Knowledge about recreation, sustainability, preservation and maintenance practices need to be shared in order to best protect the State’s irreplaceable treasures.

Currently the protection of these treasures is the responsibility of two different State agencies. Under the structure of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is responsible for conserving and sustaining the State’s natural resources and the Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is responsible for collecting, conserving, and interpreting the State’s historic heritage.

This March an important step was taken to ensure that expertise is shared. DCN and PHMC are in the process of developing a formal consultation agreement that facilitates working more closely together on issues of management, conservation, and preservation of the historic resources under DCNR’s ownership.

John Hallas, Director of the PA Bureau of State Parks, lauds this step forward. “DCNR, as a significant steward of the Commonwealth’s cultural resources, is looking to make major improvements in our management practices for historic assets.” He added that another positive aspect of the enhanced DCNR/PHMC relationship is that DCNR is launching a first-ever cultural resource plan for Point State Park in Pittsburgh. PHMC consulting services and mitigation funding will be used to develop the plan, which will serve as an archetype for incorporation into DCNR’s park-specific planning documents.

In Working Order Again

Josh Gradwohl inspects the lock model gates that he built.

The canal lock model at the Locktender’s House in New Hope provides the hands-on answer to the question “How does a lock work?” Built more than 15 years ago by a Palisades High School teacher and his students, the model features flowing water and a lock chamber in which a little boat can be raised and lowered. Best of all, it has never leaked.

Over the years the model lock gates and their wickets have been pulled and pushed tens of thousands of times by kids and adults. All that use wore out the gates, ad they were no longer able to hold water back making the demonstration of locking through impossible.

Several attempts were made to build new gates, but none worked properly. Then to the rescue came woodworker Josh Gradwohl. (You may recognize the name since Josh built the Locktender’s House garden fence, the front door, and replaced the mural plaza fascia boards.) Josh took all the old gates home, studied them, and devised a new gate design. The new gates are crafted from wood, which provides a more accurate depiction of real lock gates, and their miter joints are tight– all the better to illustrate the water levels inside and outside the lock chamber.

Josh once again shared his abilities as a fine craftsman with the Friends, and we are so grateful. This spring the lock model will be filled with water, and visitors will be able to lock a boat through all by themselves.

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Canal News – Summer 2016

Trying Times

The days of May were glorious along the Delaware Canal. In Easton, the abundant water being fed from the Lehigh River filled the Canal all the way south to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area, 1.3 miles north of Centre Bridge. (At this location, the water had to be released into the Delaware River so that the Redfield Bridge replacement construction site was not inundated.)

A new, more efficient pump, purchased by the Friends and New Hope for Our Canal, supplied River water into the Canal filling the Centre Bridge to Lock 11 section in New Hope nicely.

After extensive culvert cleanouts in the southern end, the Delaware River water flowing into the Canal through the New Hope inlet filled the Canal so high that its water was overflowing the coffer dam at the Lagoon in Bristol Borough.

A water-filled Canal in Lumberville on May 8, 2016.

The key word is “filled.” The many sections that typically have had water were brimful. New to the watering scene were Smithtown, Point Pleasant, Devil’s Half Acre, and Lumberville – communities that haven’t seen consistently high water since 2004. The Canal levels from Morrisville to Bristol Borough were also uncommonly high.

Only 1-1/2 miles of dry-ish Canal prism prevented the achievement of our goal of a “fully watered Canal.” So tantalizingly close.

Then came the discovery of a leak in the Kleinhans Aqueduct, which spans Fry’s Run, seven miles south of Easton. The DNCR engineers confirmed that a previously identified issue with several of the structure’s steel beams had become an immediate problem.

Much to DCNR’s credit, it quickly moved forward with the installation of two 60″ diameter pipes and associated coffer dams that allow Canal water to continue to flow through the aqueduct structure without exacerbating the structural problem.

The amount of water coming through the pipes is impressive, but the flow volume through the aqueduct has been reduced. The use of the two pipes, rather than the full rectangular aqueduct structure, has limited the Canal flow to an amount that reached only as far as the north end of Point Pleasant. A donor paid the electricity bill for a week-long experiment to determine whether a boost from the 6,000 gallon per minute Durham pump would push water farther south. The boost seems to have produced a low level of water extending to the northern end of Lumberville, but a final determination of the effect is still in progress. The cost of operating the Durham pump is $180+ per day, so careful evaluation of cost and benefits is necessary.

These pipes are allowing water to flow through the damaged Kleinhans Aqueduct.

The Kleinhans Aqueduct pipes are a temporary fix. Replacement or substantial repair of the aqueduct, which fortunately is the shortest one on the Canal, is the permanent solution. Replacement or repair is the only way to get a significant flow of “free” Lehigh River water flowing through Point Pleasant, Lumberville, Centre Bridge and New Hope again. DCNR has included the project in its 2016-2017 budget.

Another remedy may be the diversion of water form the Point Pleasant Pumping Station into the Canal at the southern end of the village. DCNR and DC21 have been working on an agreement with the Forest Park Water Authority to allow this diversion, which was first tried more than 15 years ago.

Now on to the Canal from New Hope to Bristol. The prolonged lack of rain has caused the Delaware River to drop below the level of the canal inlet located behind the former Odette’s in New Hope. This inlet supplies Delaware River water into the Canal and is the only significant water source for the southern 25 miles of the Canal from New Hope to Bristol. When the River drops below the inlet level, the Canal drops.

Yardley Lack of water — The level of the Canal in Yardley Borough on June 27, 2016.

In earlier issues of Canal News, you have read about the Friends’ investigation into the installation of an Archimedes Screw pump near the inlet location. This investigation continues, but, meanwhile , the feasibility of installing at 6,000 gallon per minute centrifugal pump at the inlet location is also being pursued as a quicker fix to the need for water augmentation.

Another consequence of the dry weather is that evaporation and tree and vegetation absorption are outrunning the Centre Bridge pump’s ability to keep its section reasonably full.

The best and easiest cure for the water woes from New Hope to Bristol is moderate rainfall. Rain dances by all are most welcome.

Work on all the component parts of the Redfield Bridge project is underway.

Bi-State Construction is making good progress with the replacement of the Redfield Bridge just north of Centre Bridge. The project extended beyond its anticipated duration because the east abutment had to be replaced rather than repaired. The project’s completion will be happy news to the bikers and walkers who use this popular Centre Bridge/Lumberville/Bulls Island/Stockton/Centre Bridge canal loop trail.

Additional project updates are included in the Park Manager’s Report. For the latest information, check the Breaking News page.

The Delaware Canal does present its challenges, but we have come so far and the magnitude of the challenges continues to decrease. We always keep on trying during trying times because the glorious days of May have proven that the canal is more than worth our efforts.

Park Manager’s Report

It is truly an honor for me to be named the new Park Manager at the Delaware Canal State Park Complex. I am looking forward to working with the staff, the local communities, and multiple partners seeking to improve the park. This is an excellent opportunity , and I am looking forward to the new challenge in my career.

I began my career with the Bureau of State Parks in 1994 working as a semi-skilled laborer at Neshaminy State Park. I have held positions as a semi-skilled laborer, intern, and DCNR Ranger at several state parks and as a Park Manager trainee at the Park Region 4 Office. In 2005, I was named the Assistant Park Manager at the Hickory Run State Park Complex, and in 2007, I was named as the Park Manager of Neshaminy State Park.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Recreation from Lock Haven University and will be moving to the Pipersville area with my wife and three children.

We currently have two projects in progress – the culvert replacement on Airport Road in Bristol Township and the Redfield Bridge replacement in Solebury Township. Also, in 2016, a large wall repair will be taking place at Mile Post 21 in Upper Makefield Township. We are anticipating that the replacement of the Phillips’ Mill Bridge and Lower Limeport Bridge, both in Solebury Township, will take place later this year or early in 2017. Also in 2017, we are planning for several projects. They include the tunnel through the railroad embankment just south of Morrisville and a large capital project to replace 12 bridges and culverts along the Canal.

In New Hope, the Bureau has been developing conceptual plans for the relocation of Odette’s and the development of an enhanced visitor services area located by the old mule barge concession.

Finally, work is progressing by PADOT to improve the towpath crossing at Green Lane and Route 13 in Bristol Township. The pedestrian crossing should be completed by the end of the year.

Enjoy the Canal!

Better and Better

More than 350 people turned out this spring for the Friends’ annual Canal Clean-Up Day. Thirty-two coordinators organized coverage of all 58.9 miles of the towpath and waterway. Most of the trash picking and brush clearing took place on showery Saturday, April 2, but some Canal Tenders and other groups chose other days with Falls Township Boy Scout Troop 46 finishing off the effort on May 7.

The volunteers who covered the Green Lane to the Lagoon section of Bristol Borough pose with the fruits of their labor.

THANK YOU ALL!

We were especially pleased to have several new coordinators step up to carry on their predecessors’ traditions of successful group clean-ups – Pam Can in New Hope Borough, Mayor Dave Rivella in Morrisville, and Ed Armstrong of GOAL (Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown.)

The very good news is that the Canal Clean-Up Day volunteers say that they find the Canal cleaner every year. In a May 11th Letter to the Editor to the Bucks County Courier Times, Friends’ member Joe Linus of Washington Crossing wrote, “I annually volunteer to clear trash from the Delaware Canal towpath. I am always amazed at how little trash we find. This year, I and four others could not fill even half a trash bag.”

Another validation of “the cleaner the Canal is, the cleaner it stays.”

The High Work

The Locktender’s House in New Hope is a “bank building” set into the canal bank at Lock 11. It rises three stories high on its South Main Street side, and two stories up on its towpath side. This spring three slates fell from the house roof on the towpath side, and the copper gutter on the Main Street side was miserably clogged.

To the rescue came Jeffrey DeFrehn, Sr. and Jeffrey DeFrehn, Jr. of DeFrehn Roofing of Langhorne. They offered to fix the slate roof and clean the gutter at no charge because “we love historic buildings and want to help those who work to preserve them.” We are so thankful to the DeFrehns for this very necessary help. Jeffrey DeFrehn has been in the roofing business for over 40 years, and he and his team handle roofing projects from historic buildings to new construction expertly and efficiently.

Ducks, Ducks, and More Ducks

This year’s Delaware Canal Festival has evolved into a series of summer-long events.

So many ducks to admire at the Delaware Canal Festival! Photo credit: The Advance of Bucks County — So many ducks to admire at the Delaware Canal Festival!
Photo credit: The Advance of Bucks County

On June 17 the Delaware Canal Festival kicked off in Historic Bristol Borough. Lagoon Park and the green at Grundy Mill were filled with people who bought their dinner at a variety of food tracks and then stayed for the fun. The local Irish folk band, The River Drivers, set the rhythm for a parade of decorated boats and paddleboard exercisers who plied the calm waters of the Lagoon. Kids and adults decorated ducks for the big contest, played games, visited the tables of community groups, and sat relaxing on a perfect summer evening.

The Delaware Canal Festival will arrive in downtown New Hope on Saturday, July 30. From noon to 4 p.m. come see plein air artists at work along the towpath, Civil War re-enactors at the Parry Mansion, and performers from the Bucks County Folk Song Society at Ferry Street Landing. There will be duck decorating at the Locktender’s House, a scavenger hunt, a guided walking tour of the Canal and an Instagram contest.

And there will be more duck decorating at the Delaware Canal Festival in Morrisville on Saturday, September 10. The State Park educators will be offering the opportunities to paddle kayaks in the Canal, and there will be plenty of good music, food, and fun, too.

Don’t miss out on the rest of the ducky Canal Festival season!

Canal Walk 2016

October 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29

A blast from the conch shell horn starts each day of the Canal Walk. On October 31, 2015 we had a special helper, who liked hats.

Break in your hiking shoes because the Friends are embarking on their 29th annual 58.0-mile-long Canal Walk this fall. Conducted over five successive Saturdays, the Walk is starting at the Forks of the Delaware in Easton and ending at Waterfront Park in Historic Bristol Borough.

Join in one or all of this year’s walks. The full Canal Walk 2016 itinerary will appear in the fall issue of Canal News and on-line at www.fodc.org. We hope that this is your year to take part in the challenge, the camaraderie, and the fun.

Memories of Canal Walks Past

“I’m thankful that I walked the entire length of the Canal back in the ’90’s. I have the stock certificate framed and hung on my bedroom wall to remind me of the thrill I had taking the walks, and I still recall them when we ride along River Road where the towpath is visible. I feel so proud and happy that I took the walks.”

Pat Jud

Friends of the Delaware Canal member ever since her first Canal Walk

New Canal Tenders Step Up to the Task

Annette Heintz and “The Housewifes of Rolling Hills” have adopted the Uhlerstown to Lock 17 section in Tinicum Township.

Sheree Cote and Tom Lurz are taking care of the Mountainside Inn to Lock 12 section in Plumstead and Solebury Townships.

Monica Hemmers and Steve Heimann are back at work on the Lock 12 to Virginia Forest Recreation Area section in Solebury Township.

Ricki Fisher is covering the Rabbit Run Bridge to Bridge Street section in New Hope.

The work of our Canal Tenders truly makes a difference, and we’re grateful to have these new volunteers. We also thank the people who have taken care of these areas in the past – Joe Cloran, Sally Getchell, Nan Kirstein, and Bill Rorer.

You can be a Canal Tender, too!

Here are the sections of the Canal that need adoption:

Railroad Obstruction to Tyburn Road (Morrisville to Falls Township) – 1.1 miles
Tyburn Road to Wheatsheaf Road (Falls Township) – .6 mile
Levittown Shopping Center to Green Lane (Bristol Township) – 1.9 miles
Green Lane to the Bristol Lagon (Bristol Borough) – 1 mile
Beaver Street to Riverfront Park (Bristol Borough) – .8 mile.

Only 5.9 miles of the Canal’s 58.9 mile length remain orphans – just 10%. Please help to bring our orphan rate down to 9%.

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Canal News – Spring 2016

In the Continuing Saga

Endings, beginnings, and continuations are all part of this spring’s Delaware Canal news. Fortunately, there is much to report regarding project completions thanks to our generally temperate winter.

High Falls Creek Culvert in Upper Black Eddy

The extensive culvert repair project is complete, and Lehigh River water has been running through the area for weeks. The towpath trail is open. The only thing that remains to be done is some masonry work on a stone wing wall. This small job will be completed later in the spring and will not affect either water flow or towpath traffic.

Bank Repair in Raubsville

The Park staff put a stop to an emerging hole in the towpath bank north of Mueller’s Store in Raubsville.

Leak Repairs in New Hope and Uhlerstown

Moyer and Jones Construction excavated in the area of canal wall leaks north of Lock 11 in New Hope, poured a concrete barrier, and backfilled with clay.

The Park staff dug out a section of canal bank in Uhlerstown and lined it with bentomat. Both repairs await the return of water to test their effectiveness.

Centre Bridge Pump

The new, more efficient pump arrived in late January and then was custom-fitted to do its job supplying water to the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11 in New Hope. The Park Staff will install it in the Delaware River as soon as the river level drops from its rain/spring thaw high. It’s anticipated that it will be in place and gushing away by the time that you read this article.

Airport Road Culvert in Bristol Township

The water company relocated its supply line, and Bi-State Construction has completed the corrugated metal culvert pipe replacement. The final road paving and striping will be handled by Bristol Township.

Now on to the continuing issues:

Delaware Canal State Park Resource Center

DCNR has decided to construct a separate Park Office facility rather than combine office and visitor center functions in one structure in New Hope. The location of a new Park Office is under study.

In a noble attempt to offer an alternative to the demolition of the historic Chez Odette’s building, DCNR has hastily, in the Friends’ opinion, proposed moving the original 31X36 ft. structure to the mural plaza area next to the Locktender’s House for adaptation as a visitors’ center. The Friends have taken the position that the ramifications, feasibility and real cost of such a move must be determined before any action is taken. Can the historic Odette’s building provide the envisioned visitor amenities such as easy access between South Main Street and the towpath, as well as a much needed group congregation area? And will the cause of preservation be served, if , by moving the building, its historic context is lost and the structure is dramatically altered in the process of transforming it into a visitors’ center? The search for a reasonable solution continues.

Gateway to New Hope Development

DCNR is in the process of finalizing a 35-year lease for use of the land adjacent to Gateway’s 4-story hotel/event venue development. The lease will allow Gateway to encroach upon Commonwealth property for the purpose of erecting a landscape feature.

Water Augmentation in New Hope and Point Pleasant

Planning is still in process for

The installation of an Archimedes screw pump to augment the Canal’s water level from New Hope south to Bristol
Provision of water into the Canal from the Point Pleasant pump system.

Construction of a Passageway through the Conrail Embankment in Morrisville

This project continues to make its way through the vast maze of approvals and paperwork involved with dealing with railroads.

And finally the new projects and administration news:

Bridge Replacements in Solebury Township

Bi-State Construction has begun work on the replacement of the Redfield Bridge.

The Upper Limeport and Phillips’ Mill Bridges are also slated for reconstruction this year, but right-of-way and other details are yet to be settled. The truss design for each of the bridges will be similar to the authentic camelback bridges.

Park Manager

Rick Dalton has decided to accept a position as Manager of Tuscarora State Park. See the articles on page 2. DCNR is expediting the process of selecting a new park manager for the Delaware Canal State Park Complex. Bethany Hare, the Interim Assistant Park Manager, is currently in charge.

Park Manager’s Report

It is with mixed feelings that I write this report, my last as Manager of the Delaware Canal State Park Complex. I have accepted the Manager’s position at the Tuscarora/Locust Lake State Park Complex in Schuykill County.

I have been the Manager here for over 12 years and spent 2 years as the Assistant Manager for a total of 14 years. While I have enjoyed my tenure at the Canal, it certainly has been a challenging task. A few times recently it has been described as “the hardest job in State Parks,” and I don’t disagree. The fact that we experienced 6 of the top 10 floods along the Delaware River during my tenure did not make it any easier.

I want to express my gratitude to the Friends of the Delaware Canal. Your support was invaluable to me while I was Manager. I want to single out Susan Taylor and thank her for her dedication and tireless work in support of the canal.

I held my first job in State Parks at the Tuscarora Complex in 1980. I did my practicum for college at the Park, and then they hired me as a Ranger for the summer. Recently the Manager there retired, and, after some soul searching, I decided to go full circle and finish my career where it all started. I look forward to running two “typical” parks that offer camping, boating, swimming etc. I can’t wait to smell the camp fires.

Good luck to all in your efforts with the Canal!

A Job Well Done

For 14 years, the Delaware Canal has been a big part of Rick Dalton’s life, and we think that he’ll admit that it’s been a wild ride. As Park Manager the effectively dealt with

A Complex comprised of two State Parks, the Delaware Canal State Park and Ralph Stover State Park, and all the additional resources that have been gathered under those Parks’ umbrellas-the 90-acre Giving Pond, eleven River islands, the Nockamixon Cliffs, high Rocks, two fish ladders on the Lehigh River, and miles of River shoreline.

A narrow 58.9-mile-long Canal that runs through two counties, 18 municipalities, and has more than 1000 neighbors.

Fourteen legislators representing the districts through which the Canal runs.

Federal, state, county, and local agencies that have some jurisdiction over the Canal and its operations.

An abundance of concerned partners and stakeholders.

Then to make the job ever so much more interesting came the great floods of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011 as well as “high water events,” most of which had devastating effects on the Canal. Bringing the Canal back has been an enormous challenge from the FEMA-PEMA evaluation and funding processes to the stabilization of the towpath trail and waterway prism. The many aspects of Rick’s job are too numerous to list, but he always tackled his work with intelligence, dedication, perseverance, ingenuity, and a sense of fair play. To investigate and solve problems, Rick literally jumped right in. his experience in the Navy (that’s where the idea of using oakum to stop leaks came from) and a slightly mischievous sense of humor served us all well.

Rick, we’ll miss you.

Pooches and People

If you and your dog love walking along the towpath, please remember to:

Keep your dog on its leash. Park regulations require it, no matter how friendly your canine may be.

Clean-up after your dog, and please carry your poop bags home with you. The Delaware Canal State Park is a carry in/carry out resource.

Let’s make the Canal enjoyable for all.

Canal Sections in Need of Adoption

Did you ever notice that clean places stay cleaner? People both notice and respect them. The volunteers in the Friends’ Canal Tenders program help the towpath and waterway get clean and stay that way. They adopt sections of he Canal and then monitor and tidy them on a periodic basis year-round. To learn more about the Canal Tenders program, click on HELP on the homepage.

Want to be a Canal Tender?

Here are the sections of the Canal that are currently orphans.

Uhlerstown to Lock 17 (Upper Black Eddy to Tinicum Township) – 3.8 miles
Bridge Street to Lock 9 (New Hope) – .5 mile
Railroad Obstruction to Tyburn Road ( Morrisville to Falls Township) – 1.1 miles
Tyburn Road to Wheatsheaf Road (Falls Township) – 1.4 miles
Wheatsheaf Road to Mill Creek Road (Falls Township) – .6 mile
Levittown Shopping Center south end to Green Lane (Bristol Township) – 1.9 miles
Green Lane to the Bristol Lagoon (Bristol Borough) – 1 mile
Beaver Street to Riverfront Park (Bristol Borough) – .8 mile

Please let us know if you can help to close these gaps. (The sections can be divided into smaller segments.) We’re always working toward the goal of taking care of all 58.9 miles of the Canal from Easton to Bristol.

Facebook Friend

The Friends of the Delaware Canal Facebook page has over 5000 friends from all over the country. They view amazing photos of canal critters and the changing landscape every day. You can, too, by liking our page.

Pop-Up Planting

An idea popped into Geri Delevich’s head. “Wouldn’t it be great if New Hope Borough had more of those wonderful daffodils that Bucks Beautiful has planted all over the County.” Geri, a former member of New Hope Borough Council, contacted the Friends and asked about the possibility of planting bulbs along the towpath. After a scouting walk, the area from the Locktender’s House north to the mule pen seemed a perfect place.

Geri contacted Bucks Beautiful, a program run under the auspices of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, and Bucks Beautiful happily provided 150 daffodil bulbs. A Constant Contact request went out, and fifteen well-equipped volunteers from the Friends and the New Hope Garden Club popped up at the Locktender’s House at 10 a.m. on November 17. By noon, all the bulbs were in the ground.

Now, the new sprouts are popping up, and we’re looking forward to seeing the new blossoms as well as the other 300,000 daffodils that Bucks Beautiful has planted along the Canal in past years.

Welcome, New Friends

Jane Celentano

Don and Vicki Levinson

Dina Murray

Paul Servantes

Martha Sloboda

Gary Swangler

Eileen Wachtman and Joseph Hochreiter

Wild Birds Unlimited

A More Common Sight

In years past, Boy Scout troops were the groups most often seen on the Delaware Canal towpath. Now many recreation organizations can be spotted out hiking, biking, and running. Some of them have expressed their appreciation for the work that the Friends do by becoming members, and we are most appreciative.

150705-hiking on canal towpath on hike Delaware Canal; Indian Rock Inn-High Falls Creek failed culvert — Trekking together on the Canal.

Appalachian Mountain Club – Delaware Valley Chapter

Central Bucks Bicycle Club (the Club is also a Canal Tender)

Hunterdon Hiking Club

Liberty Bell Wanderers

Lions Cross Country Booster Club

The Philadelphia Trail Club

In the future, we look forward to seeing canoeing and kayaking groups on the Canal.

Save

Canal News – Fall 2015

View the PDF

Chalking Them Off the List

Cantankerous would be a good adjective to describe the Delaware Canal this summer, but the arrival of September has brought welcome improvement and progress.

From north to south, here is the Canal’s story.

On August 20, a section of the towpath bank collapsed south of Easton. The void was approximately 10o-feet-wide and extended approximately 12 feet from the Canal water line toward the River. The Park staff immediately dropped the level of the Canal to prevent further problems and closed the towpath trail. By August 24, DCNR engineers had evaluated the situation and formulated a plan of action. Bi-State Construction commenced the repair on August 27, which involved excavating the void and then filling and compacting to reestablish the bank and towpath. Fortunately, the Canal did not have to be fully de-watered for the project. In less than a week, Bi-State was finished, and the Park staff began to rewater the canal. Subsequently two other problem spots were identified, both of which were repaired by the Park staff. With these minor collapses fixed, the gate at the Lehigh River was opened wider, and the canal is now full from Easton south to the waste gate at Indian Rock Inn in Upper Black Eddy. The waste gate is as far as water can be run because of the High Falls Creek Culvert collapse.

The deliberations on how to repair the progressively failing High Falls Creek Culvert in Upper Black Eddy are done. The consultant has advised that a metal sleeve can be inserted through the full length of the stone arch culvert, and that this course of action will serve as a permanent repair. This is very good news because the project can move forward quickly rather than waiting for a new structure to be designed, funded, and bid. It is anticipated that Bi-State Construction will be given notice to proceed with the work very soon. At that time, the sleeving material can be ordered. the lead time for the material is 3 to 6 weeks. With luck, the High Falls Creek Culvert will be repaired and the canal prism and towpath rebuilt by the end of 2015. With the completion comes the capability to water the Canal from Easton to New Hope and beyond.

cuttalossa creek culvert — The Cuttalossa Culvert replacement project is done.

The Cuttalossa Culvert replacement project, which began in May, was completed by September 1 – right on schedule. The towpath trail is back in action, and the prism is ready for water. This is particularly good news for those who hike and bike the very popular canal loop trail from Centre Bridge to Lumberville to Bulls Island to Stockton to Centre Bridge.

During the exceedingly dry weeks of late August and early September, the level of the Delaware River fell below the level of the New Hope inlet, which is located behind the former Odette’s. Without this fresh water supply, the water level in the Canal dropped by feet and in some spots was non-existent.

great blue heron and low water — This Great Blue Heron wasn’t in need of help during the dry spell, but it did get a good helping of fish exposed in the low water of the Canal.

By September 8, the situation was so severe that the Park staff asked the Friends to help them with their fish rescue efforts, and we put out a call. And then the rains came, the River rose, the Canal rose, and the Canal’s critters and people were exceedingly happy. We have been very lucky during the last several years that the southern end of the Canal hasn’t been water-starved more often. The Friends have been investigating the feasibility of installing an Archimedes screw pump that would transfer water from the River to the canal. The screw pump would be a substitute for the two waterwheels in New Hope that augmented the southern water supply from the mid-1830’s to 1936. The screw pump project has been deemed feasible by the equipment manufacturer, and a proposal has been received. Now on to consensus, funding and logistics.

The Friends continue to plan, advocate, implement, and assist. We were able to help with the towpath collapse repair south of Easton using the $4,925 that was contributed to the “Let’s Help Keep Water in the Canal This Summer” campaign last April. The funds were destined for the High Falls Creek Culvert project, but that became much more complicated. Instead, the contributions were used to help pay for the towpath collapse repair project. which was unanticipated and unfunded. The outcome of the project fit the original intent – keeping water in the Canal this summer. Thanks to all who contributed. Your support motivates quick action.

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Back in Place

One of the Canal’s worst enemies in its mid-section is topography. Between the high, rocky hillsides to the west and the Delaware River to the east are narrow parcels of land. In that narrow band lie River Road, the Canal, and homes and businesses. When rainwater pours off those hillsides, it takes a direct path to the River often damaging whatever is in its way. The roadway, the Canal, and properties are all vulnerable.

This summer the Friends helped to minimize one of the hillside runoff problems. Paxson Creek in Solebury Township flows directly into the Canal at the southern end of the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area, 1.3 miles north of Centre Bridge. A canal waste gate is positioned directly opposite the point where the creek enters the Canal allowing excess flow to be dumped into the River rather than overtopping the Canal.

During the heavy storms of recent years, the rampaging waters of Paxson Creek eroded its downhill streambed and blew out the stone wall that established the berm bank of the Canal where the Creek and the Canal met. The erosion endangered an abutting residential property and destroyed the integrity of the Canal’s prism.

The Friends contracted with Moyer & Jones Construction to both rebuild the stone wall and unobtrusively reinforce it with concrete. A grant from Solebury Township allowed the Friends to undertake this two-week-long project, which cost $8,900. A win-win, the reestablished wall benefits both the Canal and the properties along the Creek.

The Friends are here to help.

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Park Manager’s Report

The project to replace the culvert that carries the Cutttalossa Creek under the Canal was completed at the end of August. The towpath trail had been closed at this site for months prior to and during the construction and is now open again.

We are working to restart work on the culvert that carries High Falls Creek under the Canal that failed last spring. Initially an attempt was made to repair that site utilizing the remaining culvert. During the removal of debris from the culvert it was determined that the remainder of the culvert is not structurally sound, and we had to reevaluate the repairs. We now have a plan, and we will begin to institute it this fall. The towpath remains closed at this location (about 2 miles north of the Park Office in Upper Black Eddy).

There is also the culvert at Airport Road in Bristol Township that caved in and needs to be repaired. Airport Road is currently closed at that location. Also a hole 10-foot in diameter formed in the towpath slope near the Easton sewage treatment plant. We were able to determine the cause and repair the site within a few days with little interruption of water flow. These repairs were done by Park staff and our equipment rental contractor.

DCNR is getting closer to starting work on the following bridges: Redfield, Lower Limeport and Phillips’ Mill. We are also continuing to pursue solutions to obstructions in the lower end of the Canal including the Conrail Crossing, Bridge Street and Tyburn Road.

DCNR is exploring the possibility of constructing a Visitors’ Center/Office building next to the Locktender’s House in New Hope. Survey work and a Master Plan (feasibility study) were recently conducted.

We are currently working on an inventory/evaluation of the wails along the Canal between the Canal and the River with the Army Corps of Engineers.

A Vision Study is currently being developed for the Canal spearheaded by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and DC21. A series of public meetings were held in June. The results of those meetings are currently being discussed in a series of meetings with stakeholders and a second set of public meetings is scheduled for November.

As always I want to thank your organization for the help and support that you continue to provide.

Rick Dalton

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How Do You See It?

The Delaware Canal Vision Study is intended to engage a wide range of regional stakeholders, advocates, and residents in a collaborative first step toward developing a next-generation plan for the Canal.

The study process got fully underway in July with public meetings held on three consecutive nights in Riegelsville, New Hope and Morrisville. Approximately 50 people attended each session and provided thoughtful comments that reflected their concern for the Canal. The public was asked to share their Canal experiences, and questions were posed in breakout sessions. “Why is the Canal important?” “How do you currently use the Canal?” “Who uses the Canal?” “Who doesn’t use the Canal?” “What are the obstacles to using the Canal?” “What are new ways to use the Canal?” “How can the Canal survive as a community, economic, social, and environmental asset?”

The project was initiated by Delaware Canal 21 and aims to address the entire 58.9-mile-long National Historic Landmark located within Delaware Canal State Park in Bucks and Northampton counties. The process, which began in April 2015, will continue to seek innovative ideas through a series of public meetings over the next several months. Funding for the project was provided by the William Penn Foundation, and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) serves as project manager.

A second round of public meetings will be held in November. Please use these opportunities to share your thoughts about the Delaware Canal.

Tuesday, November 17

Meeting Hall in the Riegelsville Borough Building, 615 Easton Road, Riegelsville, PA.
Open House at 4:30 p.m. Share your memories and experiences. Learn about the Delaware Canal’s history. Engage team members with your ideas.
Presentation and Discussion at 7 p.m. Listen to a brief Vision Study presentation. Join in group discussions.

Wednesday, November 18

Washington Crossing Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA
Open House at 4:30 p.m. Presentation and Discussion at 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 19

Bucks County Community College, Bristol Campus, 1304 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA
Open House at 4:30 p.m. Presentation and Discussion at 7 p.m.

For more information about the Delaware Canal Vision Study, visit delawarecanalvision.org.

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Successful in Spite of Surprises

The venue changed quite unexpectedly, but this year’s Friends of the Delaware Canal Art Show was quite a success nevertheless.

Our thanks go to:

Rich Timmons who very kindly allowed the Friends to use his gallery space when the Rolling Green Barn was suddenly shut down for public use. Dealing with an unanticipated two-day show, an opening reception attended by 175 people, and highway construction is no easy task, but Mr. Timmons handled everything with grace and ease.

Richard Carlson, the owner of the Rolling Green Barn, who hosted the Friends’ Art Show for four years and thus significantly furthered our canal improvement efforts. Always generous and gracious, Mr. Carlson assisted so many local non-profits with their fundraising endeavors. He is a true “good guy,” and may that reputation ease the way to renewed use of the Barn.

Pearl and Chuck Mintzer who have led the Friends’ Art Show from its inception. In fact, it was their idea. Their creativity, drive, and extraordinary energy have made the Shows such successes. This year they deserve special gold stars for dealing valiantly with the many twists and turns of accommodating the location change.

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Just in Time for the Holidays

To keep himself occupied during his newly achieved retirement, our favorite canal artist Dennis Gerhart decided to create a line of note cards and holiday cards featuring his charming pen and ink drawings. The Friends have added the note cards to our line of sales items and are ready to sell you as many as you would like.

The note cards are packaged in assortments of six. Featured are a mule portrait, a canal boat passing under a camelback bridge, Lock 8 in front of the River House in New Hope, a mule team pulling a boat through a lock, a pair of muletender’s shoes, and a muletender leading a mule. With each pack comes a poem, which captures the spirit of Dennis’ artwork.

Thoughts of long ago
Remembering America before machines
Very hard work, very long days
When muscle power was the only way
Remembering America before machines

The note cards are priced at $10 per pack and can be purchased at the Locktender’s House, 145 South Main Street, New Hope, or you may place an order by e-mailing friends@fodc.org or calling 215-862-2021.

They’re perfect to send and perfect to give. Combining a pack of notecards with a pack of colored pencils can be a fun “color your own” present.

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From the New York Times – June 22, 1941

OLD CANAL IS REBORN

Bucks County’s Waterway After a Century Will Foster Recreation

Morrisville, PA. – The old Bucks County canal threading northward to Easton, a hard-working waterway which carried coal for a century, will enjoy a revival in a happier role. To be devoted to pleasure henceforth, it promises to be a watery wonderland for those who like glimpses of idyllic countryside from little boats.

The State acquired the sixty-five-mile-long canal from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company several months ago. Locks, gates, weirs and spillways, disintegrated through five years of disuse but not collapsed, are to be repaired. It is to be a haven for canoeists, picnickers and sportsmen. Having labored a lifetime, the canal is now to have a career of fun.

As a rowboat thoroughfare, it will present fascinating vagaries. It plays a hide-and-seek with the Delaware River, dodging inland behind sudden hills and cleanly woodlands. Red sandstone “palisades” tower above it near Upper Black Eddy, and it skirts a famous wild-flower trail off Bowman’s Hill. Ringing Rocks Park, where a clever tapper can play a tune, is a short hike overland from the waterway. Striking inland betimes, the canal reaches the heart of the country now tenanted by authors, actors and other New Yorkers.

Delaware Crossing

Those with a liking for history will find here a little river of Revolutionary lore. Morrisville, near the southern terminal of the canal, honors the home of Robert Morris. In Broadway language, the “angel” of the young nation. To the north is Washington’s Crossing, where patriots braved the icy Delaware to surprise the Hessians on Christmas night, 1776.

Near by is the lookout from which the Colonials spied on the redcoats in New Jersey. Near Kintnersville is old Durham furnace, where iron-workers made cannon as early as the French and Indian War. An abandoned iron mine, dating beyond Revolutionary times, can be seen near New Hope. Pennsbury, restored manor house of William Penn, is a few miles from Morrisville. Twenty “unknown soldiers” of Washington’s army are interred near Neeley’s mill.

The canal itself has a sturdy story, dating from its opening in 1834 to its abandonment, for commercial use, in 1936.

Vistas Along the Banks

In season now, as then, rhododendron and mountain laurel blossoms prettily in groves and thickets along the canalway. Parts of the route are charmingly shaded by willows, elms, oaks, maples and ash. Enthusiastic residents say that the Atlantic Ocean can be seen across the flats of Jersey from the peak near Bowman’s Hill, provided the observer has good eyes, high-powered glasses and clear weather.

Several public parks will fit neatly into the canal scheme. Like the canal, some of them are supervised by the department of Forests and Waters with an alert eye to recreational possibilities. Williamson Park, at Morrisville, is at the junction of the Lincoln Highway, the Delaware River and the canal. Washington’s Crossing Park is State-owned, as is the Ralph Stover Park, farther north.

Assemblyman Thomas B. Stockham and Wilson L. Yeakel, sponsors of the law by which the State acquired ownership of the canal, see the waterway as a historical landmark because it speaks so typically of America’s early transportation. Whether canoeists will ponder long on history is doubtful, but the canal machinery, restored, may attract those of an engineering turn.

The potentialities of the canal as a fish preserve are being explored, a step readily approved by sportsmen. If all plans materialize, the 107-year-old canal will enjoy a rebirth of grandeur indeed. Coal which it carried south made people warm and wealthy for years; it will be fitting if the hearty old waterway in its second career is devoted to beauty and romance.

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Our Business and Institutional Members

Learn more about these Friends by clicking on their links here.

Founder

Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association

Benefactor

Rockwood Wealth Management, New Hope
Walter’s Nursery, Inc., Point Pleasant

Patron

1740 House, Lumberville – NEW Member
Acadia Mortgage, LLC, New Britain
The Boat House, Lambertville
Brett Webber Architects. P.C., Philadelphia and Erwinna
Donnelly Marketing Services Associates, LLC
Ellenoff, Underwood & Norman, Doylestown
First Savings Bank of Perkasie
Holly Hedge Estate, New Hope – NEW Member
Newman & Company, Inc., Philadelphia
Newtown Bicycle and Fitness
Odell Painting, LLC, Ottsville
The River House at Odette’s, New Hope
The Thompson Organization, Doylestown
William B. Parry & Son, Ltd., Langhorne

Member

Ahlum Gallery, Riegelsville
Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter
Borough of Morrisville
Bucks County Riverboat & Trolley Companies, Upper Black Eddy
Cramer Bakery, Yardley
Dilly’s Corner, Centre Bridge
Edgar H. Denson, Post #79 American Legion, New Hope
First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown
First Savings Insurance, New Britain
T. Foster & Co., Inc., Yardley
Fox Chase Bank, Lahaska
Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio, New Hope
The Grundy Commons, Bristol
Hobensack & Keller, Inc., New Hope
Homestead General Store & Coffee Roasters, Upper Black Eddy
La Chele Medical Aesthetics, New Hope
Leisure Craft, Warrington
Liberty Bell Wanderers, Philadelphia
Logan Inn, New Hope
McCaffrey’s Markets, Yardley
Mueller’s General Store & Kitchen – Easton – NEW Member
NAM Planning & Design, LLC, Lumberville
John Paton, Inc., Doylestown
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska
Pete’s Bike & Fitness Shoppe, Flemington, NJ
Porches Bed & Breakfast, New Hope
River Road Business Alliance, Erwinna
Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna
Shearer Penn Corp., Trenton, NJ
The Stephan House Inn, New Hope
Tinsman Bros., Inc., Lumberville
Univest National Bank & Trust Co.
The UPS Store, New Hope
Yardley Borough

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Canal Tenders at Work

The Delaware Canal is a cleaner, more pleasant place to visit thanks to all the people who have volunteered to be Canal Tenders. They are vigilant year-round. They pick up trash, clear away limbs, report problems, and care in every way for the sections of the Canal that they have adopted.

To find out more about becoming a Canal Tender, visit the Get Involved page or call 215-862-2021. It would be wonderful to have a full complement of Tenders.

***

Help Wanted

Much of the work of the Friends gets done within the structure of five committees.

The Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance Committee deals with the bricks and mortar projects, clean-ups, nudging, planning, etc.
The Education and Recreation Committee delves into programs, signage, exhibits, etc.
The Membership Committee builds the organization.
The Fundraising Committee sustains the organization through fundraising and volunteerism.
The Finance Committee make sure that the bills get paid and the future of the organization is ensured.

The Board of Directors would very much like to have assistance, guidance, and insights from Friends’ members. Please consider joining a committee or helping out with specific tasks of interest to you. For more info, call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.

Canal News – Summer 2015

We Carry On

canal walkers stop for lunch — Canal walkers carry on as well, except when they break for lunch on a beautiful day.

The Friends always “Carry On,” but the regal decree to “Keep Calm” while carrying on has been a challenge since March 27. On that Friday, two Canal structures failed. In Upper Black Eddy, the stone arch culvert that carries High Falls Creek under the Canal collapsed sending the Canal’s water rushing toward the Delaware River and washing away the towpath. Near the David Library of the American Revolution in Washington Crossing, a section of berm-side stone wall gave way.

Much to its credit, DCNR immediately initiated a “temporary repair” of the collapsed culvert. The Friends promised to help with the cost, and an on-line “Let’s Keep Water in the Canal This Summer” fundraising campaign yielded $5500 in donations. THANKS to all who contributed!

Bi-State Construction was making great progress on the repair. The concrete footers were in place, the custom metal arch had arrived, and a “rock vac” was being used to remove accumulated gravel from the intact sections of the culvert. Could back-filling and restoration of a water-carrying prism be far behind? Sadly, yes, it could. In June, four inches of rain fell in Northampton County sending torrents of water down the Canal and filling the job site with silt and stone. In the process of removal, it was discovered that some of the stones in a portion of the standing culvert were now missing, and stability was questionable. So now, as this article is being written, the DCNR engineers and Bi-State Construction are evaluating whether a more extensive “temporary” fix is viable and affordable. The best case scenario is that the answer will be “yes”, and water will be flowing through the site in the fall. The less immediately desirable Plan C, involving the construction of a new entire or partial culvert is being pursued because it is ultimately the permanent solution to the problem.

The wall failure in Washington Crossing did not negatively affect water flow. The repair project is being put out to bid in July.

Meanwhile, the Cuttalossa Creek culvert replacement project, located south of Lumberville, also ran into problems. Drilling for the footings proved to take much longer than anticipated, and then came the rising Delaware River that inundated the construction site. The River now has dropped, the culvert structure has arrived, and , by the time this newsletter has arrived, the contractor should be well on the way to bringing the site back to its currently desired condition with the towpath trail usable and the canal prism ready for water.

Another culvert problem occurred at Airport Road in Bristol Township. This metal pipe culvert will be replaced in kind, and Bristol Township will be helping with the road restoration work.

Then to make being calm even more difficult, in June, a leak developed through the wall in the side yard of the Locktender’s House in New Hope,. The first leak ever in 24 years. Fortunately, the leak had no effect inside the house, and the bentonite slurry that the Park used to stem the flow seems to be working.

On the bright side, New Hope for Our Canal in partnership with the Friends, recently began raising additional funds necessary to keep the pump at Centre Bridge running through the rest of 2015. Thanks to everyone who has and is participating in this effort!

The Canal from Easton to Lock 20 near Kintnersville remains watered, as does the lower half of the Canal from Odette’s in New Hope south to the Bristol Lagoon.

The Friends always carry on – we’re always planning, always implementing, always helping as friends do. We do not lose sight of what makes the Canal invaluable.

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Park Manager’s Report

We were able to begin sending water into the Canal from the inlet gates at Easton early this spring. This was going well until the culvert that carries High Falls Creek under the Canal collapsed. This is a stone arch culvert that is one of the original Canal structures. It is located about 2 miles north of our office in Upper Black Eddy.

The section of the culvert near the towpath collapsed and took part of the towpath with it. We had decided to attempt a temporary repair as the planned replacement of the structure will take a while to get approved, funded, designed, and built. The temporary repair was to cover the collapsed section with arched steel plates and backfill including repair of the towpath.

While removing debris (rock, silt, etc.) from the remaining section of the culvert, it was discovered that this section exhibited the potential for further failure (missing stones). We are currently awaiting an estimate from the contractor to extend the plates over this section of culvert.

Work has started and continues on the replacement of the culvert that carries the Cuttalossa Creek under the Canal near the Delaware Valley Quarry south of Lumberville. The contractor has had to deal with very dense stone, which made drilling for the support pilings difficult. Also a recent high river level event inundated the site.

These two areas are closed to the public and we ask that people abide by these closures.

The culvert that carries the Canal under Airport Road in Bristol Township has also collapsed, and we are working with the Township and a contractor to initiate repair to this structure.

The repairs of three brides are in various stages of design. The Redfield Bridge should go out to bid shortly. We are working with adjacent neighbors on agreements for access at Phillips’ Mill and Lower Limeport.

Along with the normal ongoing maintenance (mowing, painting, tree removal, gravel bar removal, etc.) the crew has replaced all of the lumber on the “Keystone” picnic tables and rehabbed the landscaping at the Forks of the Delaware in Easton. They have also replaced the deck on our bridge at Wy-Hit-Tuk Park.

We welcome Chuck Wood to our staff as a Semi-Skilled Laborer on our Lodi maintenance crew. Chuck is from Levittown and is a valued addition to the staff.

Our Environmental Educators continue to provide excellent programs at both the Canal and Ralph Stover State Park. They offer programs such as rock climbing, walks, and kayaking. Assisting the staff this season is our intern Marilyn Can who is a student at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a resident of New Hope. Ian, Katie and Marilyn also participated in this years’s Delaware River Sojourn.

I want to thank everyone that was involved in this year’s clean-up efforts. Your organization contributes greatly to upkeep of the Canal through your annual Clean-Up Day, Canal Tenders program, and Canal Action Team(CAT) projects.

I want to take a moment to mention the passing of Brian Nixon who passed away suddenly on June 3rd. Brian was an engineer hired to work almost exclusively on projects along the canal. Brian began his position with the Park in March of 2014 and in that short time became a valuable asset to this organization. He is greatly missed.

Rick Dalton

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Just Ducky!

This year’s Delaware Canal Festival was a rollicking success with approximately 1000 people attending in Historic Bristol Borough and 300 in Morrisville – the highest number ever in each location. The decorated boats, cardboard boats, and decorated ducks were shining examples of local creativity. The food trucks hosted by Raising the Bar in Bristol were a big hit, and the music was great in both places. Kayaking proved to be very popular in Morrisville. A good time was had by all, despite a little bit of rain. Our thanks to our sponsors, contributors, volunteers and participants! Funding support from the Bucks County Conference and Visitor Center and The D&L Trail Alliance was very much appreciated.

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Safe Passage

Last winter’s incessant freezing, thawing and salting nearly destroyed the steep exterior stairway next to the Locktender’s House at Lock 11 in New Hope. All of the stucco risers were in some state of deterioration, and seven of the bluestone treads spalled. Since the stairs provide the main access way between South Main Street and the Canal towpath and Locktender’s House, the Friends undertook the $5200 repair project. Moyer & Jones Construction spent two weeks rebuilding the contankerous, crumbling structure, and now visitors can climb up and down safely again.

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Thank You!

On April 11 more than 325 people turned out for the Friends’ annual Canal Clean-up Day. The winning combination of community groups and Canal Tenders collected truckloads of trash and debris along the full length of the Canal. Volunteers from GOAL (Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown) pulled 55 tires out of their section!

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Two 9/11 Memorial Benches Repaired

The Delaware Canal State Park is a place full of memories and hope – memories of America’s past and hope for the future of a scenic waterway that thousands of people enjoy. Its beauty, historic significance, and enduring nature made the Delaware Canal a fitting site for the installation of seventeen teak benches that honor the seventeen Bucks County, Pennsylvania residents who perished on September 11, 2001 in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

The Friends coordinated a successful fundraising effort, and a bench dedication ceremony was held in October 2003. Since then, the benches, which were sited along the length of the Canal towpath, have commemorated the victims’ lives and provided spots for Park visitors to rest, reflect, and enjoy the wonders of nature.

Unfortunately, over the years, a few of the benches were lost to vandalism and floods. One lichen-laden bench has been replaced by its original donor. Others weather in place.

Recently two benches that were suffering from age and careless use were rescued by woodworker extraordinaire Josh Gradwohl. Josh volunteered to work his magic on the benches that honor Victor J. Saracini and William Robert (Bill) Godshalk. Furniture that looked like it was headed for the firewood pile was skillfully restored. The Delaware Canal State Park staff has reinstalled the benches at their locations along the towpath in Lower Makefield and Washington Crossing, and they once again offer places of rest and peace.

Thank you, Josh, for doing such a fine job!

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Our Business and Institutional Members

Learn more about these Friends by clicking on their links here.

Founder

Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association

Benefactor

Rockwood Wealth Management, New Hope
Walter’s Nursery, Inc., Point Pleasant

Patron

Member

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Canal Tenders at Work

To find out more about becoming a Canal Tender, visit the Get Involved page at www.fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. It would be wonderful to have a full complement of Tenders this summer.

***

Help Wanted

Much of the work of the Friends gets done within the structure of five committees.

The Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance Committee deals with the bricks and mortar projects, clean-ups, nudging, planning, etc.
The Education and Recreation Committee delves into programs, signage, exhibits, etc.
The Membership Committee builds the organization.
The Fundraising Committee sustains the organization through fundraising and volunteerism.
The Finance Committee make sure that the bills get paid and the future of the organization is ensured.

Canal News – Spring 2015

What’s Next?

Bald Eagle on Lynn Island — A bald eagle keeps watch over the Canal from its perch on Lynn Island.

In spite of a very construction-unfriendly winter, the two major projects preventing Lehigh River water from flowing south of Raubsville have been completed.

PennDOT’s contractor, Bi-State Construction, diligently worked to finish the installation of the new wall south of Locks 22/23 in Raubsville by their January deadline. The US Army Corps of Engineers then required that some additional work be done to the berm bank. The deep freeze impeded this, but it is done now. Bi-State has removed its equipment from the canal prism, but will return in better weather to restore the towpath and other disturbed areas.

The new bypass pipe at Lock 20 south of Kintnersville has been replaced. Another impediment to water flow is gone.

With these projects done, the State Park’s plan is to open the gates at Locks 22/23 and let the Lehigh River water flow south as soon as the gates thaw. With any luck, there will be water to watch as spring arrives, and it will make its way down to the south end of Lumberville.

The water will have to be released to the Delaware River at Lumberville because of the Cuttalossa Culvert collapse, which makes it impossible to run water through that area. The State engineers made every effort to design and bid the project as quickly as possible because the closure prevents both water flow and travel on a much-used section of the towpath. The culvert replacement project has been awarded and will begin soon. Details are included in the Park Manager’s Report on page 2.

Even though we all know that the Canal is full of surprises, the probability of having water in the entire Canal from Easton to Bristol by late summer seems good, especially since the Canal south of Morrisville has been brimful this winter – something that hasn’t happened in years.

In the period from spring to late summer, it is likely that only the section from Coppernose Creek in Lumberville to Centre Bridge will be sparsely watered.

With water comes the issue of better water retention. The State Park staff has been working on making waste gates more watertight and repairing leaks in walls this winter, and there is evidence that this has helped. The Friends are investigating various ways to prevent excessive loss of water via the overflows, particularly in the north. As for leaks, all watered canals have them, and they are part of the character of canals. The issue is to minimize them as much as reasonably possible.

The Park Manager’s Report also tells of new bridge and culvert projects. The Friends are providing input on design and are being vigilant.

All in all, things are getting better and better.

***

Three Canal ‘C’s to Cure Cabin Fever

Shake off the last of the cold and grey of winter past. Get back out on the Canal – walk, bike, run, bird watch, fish, whatever you please… You can also get the satisfaction of making the Canal a safer, more pleasant place to visit. The Friends have three ways that you can help.

Canal Clean-Up Day is on Saturday, April 11. Find out about this annual Easton to Bristol spring cleaning effort on pages 3 and 6.
Canal Tenders adopt sections of the canal, which they monitor and clean up year-round.
The Canal Action Team (CAT) undertakes more heavy-duty projects, such as clearing trees and brush, removing vegetation from locks, and painting bridges on a periodic basIs.

Want to be a Canal Tender?

There are still several sections of the Canal that need to be adopted.

Tyburn Road to Falls Township Park
Levittown Shopping Center (the Home Depot end) to the Ramada Inn
Green Lane to the Lagoon Park in Bristol Borough
Beaver Street to Riverfront Park in Bristol Borough

Please let us know if you can help to close these gaps (the sections can be divided into smaller segments). Find out details about the Canal Tenders program at www.fodc.orgcanaltenders.

The Canal Action Team (CAT) needs more volunteers. This year’s CAT Work Day schedule is in the making, but one special day has already been set.

Tuesday, May 5 at 9 a.m. – Meet at the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area to clear the canal prism, as well as the towpath and berm banks, of debris and overgrowth from Coppernose Creek in Lumberville to Centre Bridge. This is an effort to get the Canal ready for the reintroduction of water when the Cuttalossa Culvert replacement project is finished.

If you want to be part of the CAT, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org and give us your contact information and your preferred work locations – north, central, south. You will be added to the list of CAT team members. Details about work days (what the project is, when, where , what to bring) will be e-mailed to you. If you can help, just reply.

During the past several months, there have been some changes in our teams.

Welcome to the Yardley Friends Meeting team, who will be the Canal Tenders for the Mt. Eyre Road to Afton Avenue section in Lower Makefield Township/Yardley Borough.

Canal Tender Jeff Connell will be taking over the Levittown Shopping Center to Falls Township Park section. We thank Ruth Dorn for taking care of this area for several years.

Kip Mitman cared for the Canal north of Mill Creek Road in Falls Township for many years. He worked in his neighborhood incessantly, but also turned out for projects all along the Canal, including last summer’s eradication of cattails in New Hope. He did everything from picking up trash, to cutting brush with his machete, to rescuing fish. His unexpected death leaves us and the Canal sorely missing him.

Many thanks to Brian Dougherty for his expert and enthusiastic service as a CAT project coordinator.

The work of Clean-up Day, Canal Tender, and CAT volunteers truly makes a difference.

THANK YOU ALL!

***

Close, but not Quite Covered

Last fall several more sections of the Canal were adopted by Canal Tenders. The goal of having complete coverage for the entire 58.9 miles is closer to fulfillment.

Janice Armstrong and Stephen Schlosser are taking care of the Berm Lane to Lock 19 section in Upper Black Eddy.

Jose Acevedo moved from informal caretaking to becoming the Canal Tender for the Lagoon Park to Beaver Street section in Bristol Borough.

Thank you to our new volunteers and all the other Canal Tenders who are at work all year long!

There are still some sections that need to be adopted.

The section of the canal north and south of Mill Creek Road in Falls Township is in need of a Tender because of the unexpected death of Kip Mitman. Kip lovingly cared for the Canal for many years. He worked in his neighborhood incessantly, but also turned out for projects all along the Canal, including last summer’s eradication of cattails in New Hope. He did everything from picking up trash, to cutting brush with his machete, to rescuing fish. We and the Canal will sorely miss him.

Other sections that haven’t been adopted are:

Levittown Shopping Center (the Home Depot end) to the Ramada Inn
Green Lane to the Lagoon Park in Bristol Borough
Beaver Street to Riverfront Park in Bristol Borough

Please let us know if you can help close these gaps.

***

Our Business and Institutional Members

Learn more about these Friends by clicking on their links here.

Founder

Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association

Benefactor

Rockwood Wealth Management, New Hope
Walter’s Nursery, Inc., Point Pleasant

Patron

Member

***

Canal Tenders at Work

To find out more about becoming a Canal Tender, visit the Get Involved page at www.fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. It would be wonderful to have a full complement of Tenders this summer.

***

Help Wanted

Much of the work of the Friends gets done within the structure of five committees.

The Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance Committee deals with the bricks and mortar projects, clean-ups, nudging, planning, etc.
The Education and Recreation Committee delves into programs, signage, exhibits, etc.
The Membership Committee builds the organization.
The Fundraising Committee sustains the organization through fundraising and volunteerism.
The Finance Committee make sure that the bills get paid and the future of the organization is ensured.

Canal News – Winter 2015

Thank You So Much!

The New Year is off to a great start thanks to all of you who so generously responded to the Friends’ Year-End Appeal. We asked you to help us do more in 2015, and you did just that. Your contributions have certainly helped to replenish the Canal Improvement Fund.

timber sill repair by Bi-State masons at loclks 15/16 in Smithtown — The Bi-State masons at work at the bottom of Locks 15/16 in Smithtown.

The Friends are very grateful to Greg DiNardo, President of Bi-State Construction Company, for contributing half of the cost of the additional work that was required to correctly complete the timber sill replacement project at Locks 15/16 in Smithtown. The masons did an exemplary job of removing rotted wood, replacing wood, repositioning and replacing stone – all done at the bottom of the 20-foot-deep lock chamber. The Friends were literally able to keep the walls from tumbling down at Locks 15/16 and Lock 18 in Uhlerstown by funding the replacement of deteriorating timber sills. By utilizing contributions, the Friends were able to pay $57,751 for these painstaking projects. Mr. DiNardo donated $7,655 of his company’s services.

***

Getting Together for the 32nd Time

Even if the By-laws didn’t require it, the Friends would want to have an Annual Meeting. It’s such a good opportunity to meet fellow members, try the many wonderful “covered dishes”, and learn what’s been happening and what’s in store for the Canal and our organization.

The Friends’ 32nd Annual Meeting and Covered Dish Dinner was held on November 11 with more than 70 people in attendance at the Audubon Barn in Solebury Township. Our special guests for the evening were David Kemmerer, the Director of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks; John Hallas, Assistant Director of the Bureau of State Parks; and Rick Dalton, Delaware Canal State Park Manager.

Following the covered dish dinner, which was particularly appetizing this year, Friends’ President Brett Webber opened the meeting. He presented an illustrated summary of the year’s activities and thanked outgoing Board member Greg Taylor for his valued service.

Peter Sperry gave a summary of the Friends’ financial condition, including details about the expenditure of Canal Improvement funds.

The Nominating Committee presented the slate of candidates for positions on the Board of Directors. Pam Can and David Schaeffer were elected to two-year terms; and Judith Franlin, Joan Fullerton, Stephanie Garomon, and Lynn Vogel were re-elected to additional two-year terms.

New Hope for Our Canal was honored at the Annual Meeting. From left to right: Committee members Geri Delevitch, Judy Franlin, Susan Taylor, Connie Gering, Dee Dee Bowman, and Friends' President Brett Webber. — New Hope for Our Canal was honored at the Annual Meeting. From left to right: Committee members Geri Delevitch, Judy Franlin, Susan Taylor, Connie Gering, Dee Dee Bowman, and Friends’ President Brett Webber.

Outstanding volunteer efforts were also recognized. The local group, New Hope for Our Canal, was commended for its enthusiastic campaign to improve the appearance and functionality of the Canal in the New Hope area. Working in partnership with the Friends, they raised over $43,000, which has been used to pay the electricity bills for the pump that provides river water for the 3.4 mile section of the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11. The funds also have allowed two historic stone walls to be repaired and invasive vegetation to be removed.

Jack Merkl receives award at annual meeting 2014 — Jack Merkl, Canal Walk Driver-in-Chief, was rewarded for his infinite patience and hiding skills.

Veteran Canal Walker Jack Merkl was awarded with a new book to read. Jack watches over the walkers on the Friends’ annual 58.9 mile Canal Walk. In his car, he follows them along the route over the five successive Saturdays. He transports the lunches and anyone who wants or has to return to his/her car. He is also master of the game, “Where’s Jack?”, the Canal Walk version of “Where’s Waldo?”. Who knew that there were so many places to hide along the Canal. When he is found by the walkers, he always has a mystery in hand, so his present of the latest John Grisham novel was right on target.

Following the presentations our State park guests were introduced. David Kemmerer gave an encouraging update about the state of Pennsylvania’s State Parks, especially the Delaware Canal, which received additional funding to take care of some of the maintenance backlog, particularly bridge and culvert repairs and replacements. The effects of the incoming administration of Governor-elect Tom Wolf are still to be determined. The Friends’ membership expressed its hope that DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti would be allowed to retain her position.

The evening closed with hopes for even more progress.

***

Close, but not Quite Covered

Last fall several more sections of the Canal were adopted by Canal Tenders. The goal of having complete coverage for the entire 58.9 miles is closer to fulfillment.

Janice Armstrong and Stephen Schlosser are taking care of the Berm Lane to Lock 19 section in Upper Black Eddy.

Jose Acevedo moved from informal caretaking to becoming the Canal Tender for the Lagoon Park to Beaver Street section in Bristol Borough.

Thank you to our new volunteers and all the other Canal Tenders who are at work all year long!

There are still some sections that need to be adopted.

Other sections that haven’t been adopted are:

Levittown Shopping Center (the Home Depot end) to the Ramada Inn
Green Lane to the Lagoon Park in Bristol Borough
Beaver Street to Riverfront Park in Bristol Borough

Please let us know if you can help close these gaps.

***

Welcome, New Friends

***

Our Business and Institutional Members

Learn more about these Friends by clicking on their links here.

Founder

Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association

Benefactor

Rockwood Wealth Management, New Hope
Walter’s Nursery, Inc., Point Pleasant

Patron

1740 House, Lumberville – NEW Member
Acadia Mortgage, LLC, New Britain
The Boat House, Lambertville
Brett Webber Architects. P.C., Philadelphia and Erwinna
Donnelly Marketing Services Associates, LLC
Ellenoff, Underwood & Norman, Doylestown
First Savings Bank of Perkasie
Holly Hedge Estate, New Hope – NEW Member
Newman & Company, Inc., Philadelphia
Newtown Bicycle and Fitness
Odell Painting, LLC, Ottsville
The River House at Odette’s, New Hope
The Thompson Organization, Doylestown
William B. Parry & Son, Ltd., Langhorne

Member

Ahlum Gallery, Riegelsville
Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter
Borough of Morrisville
Bucks County Riverboat & Trolley Companies, Upper Black Eddy
Cramer Bakery, Yardley
Dilly’s Corner, Centre Bridge
Edgar H. Denson, Post #79 American Legion, New Hope
First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown
First Savings Insurance, New Britain
T. Foster & Co., Inc., Yardley
Fox Chase Bank, Lahaska
Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio, New Hope
The Grundy Commons, Bristol
Hobensack & Keller, Inc., New Hope
Homestead General Store & Coffee Roasters, Upper Black Eddy
La Chele Medical Aesthetics, New Hope
Leisure Craft, Warrington
Liberty Bell Wanderers, Philadelphia
Logan Inn, New Hope
McCaffrey’s Markets, Yardley
Mueller’s General Store & Kitchen – Easton – NEW Member
NAM Planning & Design, LLC, Lumberville
John Paton, Inc., Doylestown
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska
Pete’s Bike & Fitness Shoppe, Flemington, NJ
Porches Bed & Breakfast, New Hope
River Road Business Alliance, Erwinna
Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna
Shearer Penn Corp., Trenton, NJ
The Stephan House Inn, New Hope
Tinsman Bros., Inc., Lumberville
Univest National Bank & Trust Co.
The UPS Store, New Hope
Yardley Borough

***

Canal Tenders at Work

To find out more about becoming a Canal Tender, visit the Get Involved page at www.fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. It would be wonderful to have a full complement of Tenders this summer.

***

Help Wanted

Much of the work of the Friends gets done within the structure of five committees.

The Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance Committee deals with the bricks and mortar projects, clean-ups, nudging, planning, etc.
The Education and Recreation Committee delves into programs, signage, exhibits, etc.
The Membership Committee builds the organization.
The Fundraising Committee sustains the organization through fundraising and volunteerism.
The Finance Committee make sure that the bills get paid and the future of the organization is ensured.

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