Park Manager’s Report

PARK MANAGER’S REPORT – Spring – Summer 2023

By Brian Heath
Park Manager, Delaware Canal State Park

We want to thank the Friends and all the volunteers who participated in the Annual Canal Clean-up event. Volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their time to help keep the park beautiful are invaluable.

STAFFING
A joint on-site hiring event with Tyler State Park was held at the Buckstone Farm Conference Center to fill vacant positions, including a laborer and a park resource ranger. The event attracted 17 candidates, with 14 interviewed. Interviews are underway for the remaining online applicants. Other vacancies continued to be posted for various positions. Interested applicants should visit employment.pa.gov or contact the park.

PROJECT UPDATES
Three project bids have been approved and will be awarded to a selected contractor. Once the contracts are finalized, scheduling, logistics, and closure information will be provided. The projects include:
● Flood damage repairs to a section of the berm and towpath in Easton(MP 59-53).
● Phase One of the 12 Bridge Project will target repairs for Smithtown Bridges 3 and 4 and the Sub-canal Culvert in Raubsville.
● Phase Two of the 12 Bridge Project will target repairs for two bridges in Upper Makefield, including Tebola Beans Bridge and the David Library Bridge. In the north, the bridges include the Canal
Road, North Bridge in Williams Township, and the Canal Lane Bridge in Bridgeton Township.

High Falls Culvert replacement: A Hydrologic and Hydraulic Study that analyzes the movement of
water, including the volume and rate of flow, is nearing completion. A conceptual design is in review.
Spahr’s Authentic Camelback Truss Bridge: A conceptual design was presented to the Advisory Committee.
Lumberville Aqueduct project: This rebuilding project is in the design phase, which is scheduled for completion before the end of the year.

NEW INITIATIVES
Giving Pond Naturalization Project: We are currently working on re-establishing the fields at the giving
pond. The open field near river road was once a wildflower field. It has been prepped and reseeded with a Pennsylvania native annual/ perennial mix of wildflower seeds. The fields by the towpath will require ongoing attention as grasses start to emerge and the autumn olive infestation is removed. We are working with Natural Resources staff as we re-establish the field moving forward. An improved access project is also underway to connect the towpath with giving Pond Parking area.

Ralph Stover Tree Planting:
Thirteen sapling trees have been planted at Ralph Stover to replace fallen Ash trees. The trees will take time to mature, but they will help restore the canopy over the picnic area. A memorial donation funded the purchase of these trees, including some flowering understory trees such as dogwoods, redbuds, and shade trees, including American Red Maple, American Beech, Black Gum, and Willow Oak. The park staff will continue to plant trees, as possible, to restore the rustic wooded nature of the park.

WATER
The Centre Bridge Pump is now online, providing water for the 3-mile stretch between Centre Bridge and Lock 11. The Friends are working as intermediaries with residents, collecting money to fund the electricity needed to run the pump. New Hope, and areas north of Lock 11, usually are watered from the Delaware River inlet in Easton. However, damage sustained during Hurricane Ida in Upper Black Eddy and Lumberville has stopped the flow. DCNR is working diligently to repair these structural failures. The Delaware River inlet in New Hope feeds the Canal south of Lock 11. In advance of significant forecasted rain events, staff will lower the water in anticipation of higher volumes, but after the storm, we resume normal levels. As the dry summer months approach, if the Delaware River falls below 9 feet on the Trenton River gauge, the water stops flowing in from the inlet. If this continues for several days, areas south of New Hope will begin to dry up. The river level and the level of the canal during times of drought are beyond the control of the park.

MOWING AND TREE REMOVAL
Our staff in the northern section of the park is starting mowing operations. The purchase of additional equipment should speed up our process as long as the staff is available to run the tractors. Due to the difficulty of getting the parts needed for a clam jaw, we are getting a late start on removing fallen trees which may impact mowing in the early season. However, we are moving along and catching up.

Mowing operations in the south will commence soon, likely starting in Bristol toward the end of this month. This year, in certain areas, such as Buckstone Farm, we will cut the grass slightly higher than in previous years to see if it will help deter the geese. Geese like the young grass shoots that grow after a cutting. Allowing the grass to grow longer makes it less palatable for these birds.

The southern maintenance staff has been removing trees that have fallen into the canal and working on towpath repair. These are time consuming tasks requiring personnel and equipment. Some sections of the towpath are narrow, challenging our access with certain vehicles. In other cases, access alone to parts of the towpath that need attention is extremely difficult. We are working to ensure that the towpath is safe for towpath users as they make repairs to potholes and other muddy sections. We understand the frustrations with gravel size and
are working to improve the issue as time and manpower allow.

CLOSURES
Giving Pond River Access: The river access at the Giving Pond Recreation Area will be CLOSED. The purpose of this closure is for PUBLIC SAFETY and RESOURCE PROTECTION. The closure will be in effect until further notice. Park users should NOT attempt to get by the closure. Trespassing violations will be addressed accordingly.

Canal News – Spring 2021

Sharing Stories Virtually

A Yellow Warbler along the Delaware Canal — A spring sight and sound along the Canal – A Yellow Warbler. PHOTO: Carole Mebus

Zoom meetings, webinars, a YouTube channel. The Friends have been changing their storytelling game since March 2020 when we held our last in-person public program. Please
visit the Friends of the Delaware Canal YouTube channel to find the Canal Times I and II programs and a video interview with Will Rivinus, who tells about his first venture into canal walking. Unfortunately, our two Postcards from the Past presentations aren’t there because the Zoom recordings cut off after 30 seconds in spite of our best efforts.

The dates and times of the future webinars will be sent via Constant Contact. If you aren’t signed up, just scroll down to the form on the homepage of fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. The information will also be posted in the Events section on the homepage of fodc.org.

There are still lots of stories to share, and videos will be part of the mix. Want to help? The Friends could really use someone who is relatively experienced and enthusiastic about making “informal” videos. Interested? Please let us know.

See you one way or another!

JOIN US FOR THESE UPCOMING WEBINARS:

The Canal’s Spring Flowers
The Birds of Spring
Invasives Watch
Canal landmarks and mileage Chart 101
A program featuring the old postcards contributed to the Friends by long-time members Kathleen and Bob Stalgaitis.

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The High and Low Points of Last Winter

Snowy towpath along the Delaware Canal — Conditions were perfect for cross-country skiing along the Canal. PHOTO: Kent and Marion Smith

The snow just kept falling this past winter making the Delaware Canal an extraordinarily beautiful white wonder. By all reports, it was the best winter for cross-country skiing on the towpath in at least ten years.

Unfortunately, the season’s weather also created some serious problems along the Canal. Torrential rainfall at Christmas caused inland streams to overtop their banks and the Delaware River to rise to Minor Flood stage.

Culvert collapse in Raubsville — The culvert collapse in Raubsville.

The relentless flow of stream water into the sub-canal culvert just north of Locks 22-23 in Raubsville caused its stone headwall to collapse. With the falling stone came a portion of the Canal berm bank, bringing the situation perilously close to completely blowing out the bank and seriously flooding the inland residential property. Thankfully, the erosion stopped short of that. The collapse was designated as an “emergency repair” by the DCNR engineers and Park staff, and Bi-State Construction was on site within days of December 26 to clear the culvert opening so that stream water could flow through it and to begin the repair of the culvert itself. Good progress was made, but then the snow and ice came making it too dangerous for the equipment to maneuver at the site, which is both narrow and steep. The project has resumed and is expected to be complete within weeks.

The flooding Delaware River rose to levels where its water overtopped the banks of the Canal in low areas. The flood waters caused damage to the towpath surface in several sections, particularly in the northern end of the Canal, and, just south of Easton, the earth sloughed off the slope of the towpath bank.

River flooding damaged the towpath banks south of Easton

The high and rushing water in the Canal itself caused problems. The interior decking in the new Fry’s Run Aqueduct experienced some displacement, which can be repaired by the Park staff. More complicated will be the task of removing some rocks that lodged themselves between the layers of the synthetic liner at the Tinicum Aqueduct.

In the case of all these problems, as well as projects that were underway last fall, the snowy conditions prevented work from progressing, but spring is on its way, and with it will come the renewal of repair work.

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PARK MANAGER’S REPORT

By Devin Buzard

One of my favorite idioms is “Make hay while the sun shines.” Over the past year, while in service to the Delaware Canal, I have found this expression to be meaningful on multiple levels. I would go as far as to say that it encapsulates the general concept of confronting the challenges of Canal maintenance and management. There is never a shortage of work to be done and always an appropriate time to do it.

Repair projects along the Canal have recommenced with the melting of the snow. The large excavators, currently located in Raubsville, once again have come back to life. The removal of a sycamore tree with a destructive root system kickstarted our extensive efforts to reline the Canal and restore its ability to retain water.

sycamore tree cut down new towpath — A large sycamore tree was downed at the site of the collapse north of Woody’s Bridge. Its roots were undermining the Canal’s prism. PHOTO: Carole Mebus

Over these past snowy months, I am happy to report great success in filling several vacant full-time Canal positions in our Southern offices. These include a Park Maintenance Supervisor and a Maintenance Repairman (skilled tradesman), who was recently added to our staff complement. Newly hired Park Maintenance Supervisor Matthew Overbeck of Pipersville replaces Brad King, who retired after his 35 years of service to the Commonwealth.

On the heels of former Delaware Canal Assistant Manager Bethany Hare taking a promotional opportunity, we are just weeks away from announcing the hiring of two new Assistant Managers. This is all good news as we are looking to the future of the Canal with a dedicated administrative presence and offices in both the Northern and the Southern sections. The concept is similar in nature to how our maintenance responsibilities are currently established. This is all taking place in conjunction with the recent acquisition of the former David Library of the American Revolution and the Sol and Rose Preserve properties in Washington Crossing.

As you may already know or gleaned from this newsletter, the Canal sustained significant damage during the December heavy rains and river flooding event. While timelines for all of the repairs to be completed are still unknown due to the severity of the damages, I am certain that the appropriate resources are being committed, and we are pushing towards the goal of opening the Easton feeder gate as soon as possible.

While on the surface it would appear that work is weather dependent, I would argue that work is perpetually progressing forward and with your support we will “continue to make hay”.

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The Limber CAT

Volunteers paint a camelback bridge. bridge. — Painting the Mt. Eyre Road Bridge faux camelback trusses required agility on the part of CAT volunteers.

Before winter set in, seven Canal Action Team members gave the Mt. Eyre Road Bridge over the Canal two much-needed coats of barn-red stain. The bridge, located on the line between Lower Makefield and Upper Makefield Townships, is one of, if not the only, public road bridge over the Canal owned by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Under the direction of Team leader Bob Ketler, the CAT members came laden with their most trusty painting tools and went to work—bending, stretching, leaning, and crawling to reach all the components of the two faux camelback trusses.

After a full morning’s worth of work with Delaware Canal State Park Rangers handling traffic control, CAT brought the Mt. Eyre Road Bridge back to an appearance worthy of a Canal landmark.

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Fingers Crossed

The Friends are planning to bring back our series of “Green Phase” COVID-precautioned short walks as soon as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) allows public programs to resume. To account for the uncertainty of conditions and time frames, these walks will again be Pop-Ups, but we are scheduling a Spring Beauties Walk on Sunday, April 18, just to try to get things back to being a little more normal.

Canal Walk POP-UP SHORT WALKS
Locations, Dates, and Times are sent via
Constant Contact and posted on fodc.org.

We were able to get 11 short walks in last season and have another 20 walk itineraries ready to go as opportunities arise. The walk lengths vary from 2 to 6 miles roundtrip. In addition to late afternoon ventures, we anticipate that weekend and morning walks can be added to the schedule.

To walk with the Friends, watch for our Constant Contact e-mails and check Events on the homepage of fodc.org. If you are not on our Constant Contact list, please scroll down to the bottom of the homepage to sign up or call 215-862-2021.

To discourage the spread of COVID, these walks will once again be limited to 10 people, masks must be worn, and physical distancing encouraged. Reservations must be made in advance. All information will be included in our event notices.

These walks fill up very quickly, so when you receive the notices, don’t hesitate to make your reservations. To be fair, preference will be given to those who have not participated in other short walks during the current season.

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Upcoming Events

SPRING BEAUTIES WALK
SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1:30 PM
Meet at the I-295 Park and Ride Lot
1140 Woodside Road, Yardley, PA 19067

Beauty comes in different forms. On this 2-mileroundtrip walk, you can take in the Canal’s beauty at Lock 7. Daffodils dance on the towpath bank and trees will be blossoming. The Lock with its stone walls restored by the Friends, the little board and batten shanty, and the Locktender’s House complete the spring scene.

Another kind of beauty shows itself at the 1799 House sitting by the Canal at Woodside Road. This historic stone house was purchased by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission as part of the Scudder Falls Bridge project. The house has been sensitively rehabilitated and serves as a restroom facility for Canal visitors. Having a new bathroom facility near the Park, in a saved historic structure, no less, is a beautiful thing.

The Spring Beauty Walk will be led by veteran Canal Walker Jeff Connell, who also serves on the Friends’ Board of Directors. He will share the story of the Scudder Falls Bridge pedestrian pathway, which will be the seventh river bridge crossing connecting the Delaware Canal towpath to the D&R Canal towpath in Ewing, NJ. Along the way to Lock 7, he will point out the newly replaced 9-11 memorial bench and a wildlife haven.

Applicable COVID precautions, as described in Pop-Ups, will be taken. Reservations are required no later than April 14. Please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.

Hope to see you on the towpath!

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CANAL CLEAN-UP DAY

SATURDAY, APRIL 10
PLUS
Any Day, especially during the month of April

Usually, the Friends’ annual Clean-Up Day takes place on the first Saturday in April, and hundreds of volunteers tackle the trash that has accumulated in and along the Canal’s 58.9-mile length. Of COVID Times necessity, this year’s clean-up will focus on individual and family group efforts—no large groups will be encouraged. The official date is also different because the first Saturday in April is the opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania and occurs during the Easter holiday weekend. To compensate for these unusual circumstances, we are extending Clean-Up Day and encouraging volunteers to give the Canal its spring cleaning anytime, particularly during the month of April.

Nearly all of our photos from past Canal Clean-Up Days feature groups of people working together—not the visual message that we want to communicate this year. So, here’s a rare exception. This volunteer showed off the very large and mossy sneaker that she found along the towpath in Falls Township.

Here’s how to help this spring –
On Saturday, April 10, go out to any section of the Canal and pick up trash, debris, and anything that doesn’t allow the Canal to look its best. Both on-land and by-boat clean-ups are welcome. In fact, using canoes and kayaks is sometimes the only way to get to trash on the berm side or just hiding below the water surface.

If you can’t be out on the 10th, please work anytime the weather and your energy encourage you to do so.

For the safety of all, volunteers must comply with federal CDC, State, and local COVID-19 precautions, including, but not limited to, wearing a face mask, practicing physical distancing, and following proper hygiene protocols. (Handwashing is and always has been a good idea on Clean-Up Day.)

Please wear gloves and sturdy shoes and bring along any pick-up tools that work well for you.

If you need trash bags or gloves, we can supply them. Contactless pick-up can be done at either the Locktender’s House in New Hope (call 215-862- 2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org) or at the State Park Headquarters in Upper Black Eddy (call 610-982-5560 or e-mail kmartens@pa.gov).

If you collect things that are too heavy or unwieldy to take home for disposal, please let the Friends know the location, and the Park staff will make pick-up arrangements.

And don’t forget to let the Friends know that you’ve been out there working, so that we can thank you as well as count the number of volunteers who participated and determine what areas might need attention after April. Please take pictures and share them!

The Friends have done clean-ups ever since the organization’s founding in 1982, and we intend to keep up that tradition because our goal is always to be of help to the Delaware Canal.

If you have questions about these new circumstances, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org. And THANK YOU for your concern and help!

GIVING BACK

To all of you who invested in the Friends’ efforts by contributing to our Year-End Appeal, THANK YOU! After nine months when the Delaware Canal provided much-needed refuge, serenity, and recreation, it was clear that you wanted to help the Friends improve and maintain the place that had given you so much. Many people who contributed at year-end had never done so before.

YOUR GENEROSITY HAS EASED THE WAY INTO WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.

THE 6TH FOR THE 4OTH

Can the sixth and final historic camelback bridge over the Canal be restored in time for the Friends of the Delaware Canal’s 40th anniversary in 2022?

Yes, we feel confident that it can be—with your help. Out of the 100+ bridges that once crossed the Delaware Canal, Spahr’s Bridge in Upper Black Eddy is one of only six that retains its authentic and iconic camelback structure. The Friends spearheaded the restoration of four of the other camelbacks, encouraged the fifth, and have had Spahr’s on our to-do list for years.

Deteriorating abutment on camelback bridge. — The Spahr’s Camelback Bridge east abutment is in especially bad shape.

Spahr’s Bridge has been a formidable project to tackle because not only is the superstructure severely deteriorated, but also both stone abutments are cracked, a condition exacerbated by two earthquakes. The $350,000-$400,000 cost of restoring Spahr’s Bridge has been an obstacle.

Now the stars are aligning. The relatively new owner of the property on either side of the Bridge believes in historic preservation and supports its restoration rather than modernization. The condition of Bridge is now so poor that action by the State is inevitable. The Friends have been very vocal in our support of handling the project using historic preservation best practices, and the State agrees. Plans are now underway to hire a highly qualified contractor to dismantle the superstructure taking care to inventory and record the existing members and store and reuse timber and hardware when possible. The State plans to contract with a consultant to prepare the plans and specifications for the repair of the stone abutments. The State will fund both the dismantling and the abutment projects.

And we come to the part of the Spahr’s Bridge project with which you can help. Private contributions are being sought to fund the superstructure portion. In simpler terms, the trusses, the deck, the cross beams, and the hardware. Putting Spahr’s Bridge together requires expertise, skills, and passion. The Friends contribution to the project will help ensure that those requirements are met. We are very pleased and thankful for two very generous donations from the Goodfellow Fund and Barbara and Peter Sperry. They have given the Spahr’s Bridge restoration a great jump start.

More information about how you can help will be coming soon. If you’re already convinced, you can donate now by scrolling down on the www.fodc.org homepage to the Spahr’s Bridge contribution block or, even better, send your check to Friends of the Delaware Canal, 145 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938.

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Get ’em Before They Hatch

A Spotted Lanternfly egg mass. Please seek and destroy.

As we learned last year, getting rid of Spotted Lanternflies while they are alive is a challenge. They jump; they fly; they jump; they fly…

There is still time to control these destructive insects before they hatch and fly off on their pretty wings. Start finding and destroying their egg masses now. Spotted Lanternflies lay their eggs in the fall, usually on flat surfaces like tree trunks, rocks, walls, wood fencing, even outdoor equipment.

It may take a bit of investigating, but you will become better at tracking them down once you know what to look for. If you have an Ailanthus tree aka Tree of Heaven on your property, check there first. These trees are a Lanternfly favorite. If you noticed an infestation on your property, be sure to scan that area as well.

You can remove their mud-like egg masses with a paring knife or a small plastic card, like a credit card. Using a rigid surface, you can crush the eggs or, even better, remove and destroy the entire casing by scraping it into a plastic bag containing rubbing alcohol. Once the eggs come in contact with the liquid, they will die. Killing eggs now will help curb this pest this summer.

So, harness your pent-up pandemic energy and go Lanternfly hunting.

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Canal Tenders—More Important Than Ever

The Delaware Canal State Park has experienced a historic increase in visitation since last March when the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic set in. We’re pleased to say that the many people didn’t cause a dramatic increase in the amount of trash left behind, thanks to the care taken by visitors and the diligence of the sixty volunteers who serve in the Friends’ Canal Tenders program.

Many, many thanks to all the Tenders, who pick up trash, clear branches, and report problems throughout the year. Their pandemic precautioned clean-up efforts make the Canal a better place for both people and critters.

We are pleased to welcome two new Canal Tenders to the crew!

David Weiss has volunteered to co-tend the Canal from Black Rock Road to East Afton Avenue in Yardley along with veterans Ann and Keith Webb.

A. J. Zolton has taken on the section from Lock 17 (Treasure Island Lock) in Tinicum Township to Lock 18 in Uhlerstown.

Several sections in the southern end of the Canal remain without Tenders including:

• Riverfront Park to Beaver Street: Bristol Borough
• Beaver Street to the Bristol Lagoon at Jefferson Avenue: Bristol Borough
• The Bristol Lagoon to Green Lane: Bristol Borough
• Green Lane to Edgely Avenue: Bristol Township
• Edgely Avenue to Levittown Shopping Center: Bristol Township/Tullytown Borough
• Wheatsheaf Road to the Conrail Tunnel: Falls Township

Please let us know if you can help with any of these sections. The boundaries are not set in concrete, so feel free to propose a length other than those shown.

Being a Canal Tender is a rewarding experience in so many ways, and you’ll be in very good company. To find out more about what’s involved, visit the HELP page at fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. And while you’re there, check out the Canal Action Team (CAT) page. Perhaps, it’s a volunteer opportunity just right for you.

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At the Board Table

Thanks to the convenience of being able to attend from home via a Zoom webinar, participation in our 2020 Annual Meeting on November 10 was the highest ever. Many were in attendance for the first time. This was a positive consequence of the pandemic, even though everyone missed not being together and sharing covered dishes.

During the webinar, the activities of 2020 were reviewed in a PowerPoint presentation, and a short video featuring Will Rivinus telling about his first canal walk made its debut. Friends’ organization business was conducted; and Delaware Canal State Park/PA DCNR representatives covered current and upcoming issues. These speakers were Jason Zimmerman, Assistant Director of the Bureau of State Parks; Devin Buzard, Park Manager; and Beth Hare, Assistant Manager. Beth included in her report the visual evidence of the success of her and her four-year-old daughter’s venture into mule cookie making.

Two retiring Board members were recognized for their service. During her eight-year tenure, JUDY FRANLIN was a dynamo serving as Secretary and Treasurer at different times. She will continue to be active as a member of the Finance and Development Committee. NANCY SMALL, a more recent Board member, shared her breadth of knowledge of the operations of other non-profits.

The membership re-elected JOAN FULLERTON, DAVID SCHAEFFER, and JACK TORRES to additional two-year terms. Elected to their first terms were Gordon Heisler and Ken Standig.

Here’s a bit about them.

GORDON HEISLER
Living within a half-mile of the Delaware Canal for over forty years in Lower and Upper Makefield Townships and enjoying trips along the towpath since the 1970’s, Gordon has a unique appreciation for the waterway and towpath. He has been a Canal Tender for the Washington Crossing section for eight years and participated in several Canal Action Team projects. Gordon realizes the importance of preserving and improving this one-of-a-kind park. A member of the Friends for many years, Gordon joined the Board to assist in implementing improvements and spreading the word about the canal and towpath experience.

Professionally, after graduating from Rider University, Gordon spent forty years in oil and chemical logistics industries with FMC, Sunoco, and consulting. He also volunteers at the Morrisville Food Bank. Gordon and his wife Barbara enjoy biking and hiking on the Canal and traveling to visit many other trails throughout the United States and Europe.

KEN STANDIG
Ken and his wife Julie moved to Buckingham Township full time from New York City and Long Island in 2019, but they have enjoyed life along the Delaware River for much longer than that. Annual summer camping trips with the Boy Scouts at Treasure Island Scout Reservation, canoe trips in high schooland college days, and family camping in the Delaware Water Gap were all part of their lives. Now they enjoy the views along the Canal towpath while biking, hiking, and walking their dog Dizzi.

Ken retired in 2018 after a 43-year career in engineering, during which he managed the planning, design, and rehabilitation of infrastructure projects. He found working on dams, locks, and canals to be the most interesting and challenging, including more than a dozen projects along the New York State (Erie) Canal and the D & R Canal in New Jersey. He hopes that his experience will be put to good use along the Delaware Canal. Ken has been a member of the Friends’ Advocacy, Restoration & Maintenance Committee for the last year. He has degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Lehigh University and is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Welcome Gordon and Ken!

The departure of veteran Board member JACK DONOHUE at the beginning of January 2021 left a void on the Board. Well known for his enthusiasm and reasonable thinking, Jack was a great asset to the Friends during his two terms.

As always, the Board welcomes your participation and input. And, if you are interested in serving, please raise your hand.

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The Need Isn’t New

Waterwheels pump water into canal — Waterwheels once provided additional water to the southern end of the Canal.

Even before the Delaware Canal was fully opened in 1832, those responsible for its construction realized that the water supplied by the Lehigh River in Easton was not enough to maintain a full Canal, particularly in the southern end. To solve this problem, an “ingenious device” was erected at the Union Mill (since converted into The Waterworks, a residential condominium complex) in New Hope.

In June of 1831, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania contracted with Lewis S. Coryell and three of his business partners to erect a wing dam at Well’s Falls in the Delaware River and water wheels. The purpose of the dam was to supply water to a two-wheel system. There was an undershot water wheel driven by the power of the river flow, which was coupled with another wheel with buckets that scooped river water, raised it, and then allowed it to flow through a trunk leading to the Canal.

A traveler to New Hope in 1832 wrote, “This simple contrivance, without gearing or valves, or anything else liable to get out of order is more than sufficient to supply the Canal from New Hope downwards.” The waterwheels were capable of raising 3,500 cubic feet of water per minute. Although not as repair-free as the New Hope visitor envisioned, they remained in place until June of 1923 and then were carried away in a flood in 1936.

After 1923, the issue of insufficient water flowing southward reemerged, particularly when the level of the Delaware River dropped below the level of the New Hope inlet. Various remedies were tried, but none worked well enough.

As you have read in past issues of Canal News, the Friends, in partnership with the Delaware Canal State Park, are working to install a centrifugal pump in the River in the northern section of Washington Crossing Park. The pump and the electrical installation, financed by the Friends, are ready to go. The pipe leading from the River to the Canal is in place. Before putting the pump in operation, there is one approval that must be granted from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The new “Bowman’s Hill” pump will augment the flow of water to Bristol as the New Hope waterwheels once did.

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Canal News – Fall 2020

Construction Countdown Done

Rewatering Underway

By the time you receive this newsletter, the repairs to the Tinicum Aqueduct, its walls and banks will be complete. The project, which was anticipated to be finished in July extended into October because of supply delays. The delivery of the pressure-treated, custom lumber for the pedestrian walkway was two months late because of a COVID shutdown at the processing plant, and the lining material for the aqueduct trough was held up at the Canadian border. And those were just the big issues.

The project, necessitated by a major berm bank blowout, evolved into a multi-faceted undertaking to address the aqueduct’s other problems.

• A new concrete wall was constructed to stabilize the berm bank and halt creek-caused erosion.
• The aqueduct pier was repaired and faced with timber to protect the pier and return it to an earlier appearance.
• The mortar joints in the stone abutments were cleaned and redone to halt the extensive leakage.
• The aqueduct, which is a steel trough constructed in the 1950’s, was repaired, repainted, and lined with a rubber epoxy coating to seal the seams between the bottom plating.
• The pedestrian walkway that crosses the aqueduct was entirely replaced.
• The last task was to restore the canal prism and line it with clay.

New walkway on the Tinicum Aqueduct — The new walkway on the Tinicum Aqueduct gets some use.

Up until the completion of the aqueduct project, the canal water supplied by the Lehigh River could only flow to the wastegate located by the Golden Pheasant Inn. Now that the construction is no longer an obstruction, the State Park will endeavor to get the water as far south as possible.

The staff and an outside contractor have been filling sinkholes with flowable fill, removing silt bars that act as partial dams, repairing walls, and removing the many fallen trees as time allows. All with the goal of allowing the Canal to retain and convey as much water as possible.

Rewatering the Canal is a complicated task requiring an understanding of past and present conditions, skill, timing, and more than a little bit of luck.

So, here’s to the water. Far may it flow!

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Always on the Look Out

Hazzard's Bridge — Pete took Josh’s photo while they were both at work on Hazzard’s Bridge

“Hmm, this board isn’t in good shape,” observed Board and Canal Action Team member, Pete Rosswaag, while he was out on one of his bicycle rides near his home in Upper Black Eddy. Right he was.

One of the cap boards on the historic Hazzard’s Camelback Bridge was in need of replacement. Pete and fellow CAT member Josh Gradwohl went into action. They measured, the Friends purchased a new cypress board, Josh picked it up and painted it, and then he and Pete put it in place.

Pete plans to return to do some touch up painting on the rest of the bridge. The Friends’ do watch over the Canal’s Camelbacks.

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Park Manager’s Report

by Devin Buzard

When examining the Delaware Canal through the lens of a National Historic Landmark and contemplating what it truly means to withstand the passage of more than 188 years, it forces time into a new perspective. While I am far from a historian, I have gleaned in the past year that perseverance along with a faith in achieving a better future have shaped the Canal and the surrounding landscape into what we see today.

Mowing the canal path as bikers pass by. — Our work along the Canal continues while many more people use the towpath
this year.

Over the years, nature has battered both the Canal and those who live alongside it, but the perseverance to rebuild and honor the past does not change. As a testament to this statement and despite a year filled with uncertainties, we have seen and will see the completion of three large-scale Canal projects and many other smaller ones that are just as significant.

Two notable projects—both located in Williams Township, Northampton County—were finished in the month of July. Their completion marked the opening of the feeder gate in Easton, and the introduction of Lehigh River water to a 22-mile section of the northern stretch of the Canal.

These two projects were the rebuilding of Fry’s Run Aqueduct and a massive drop gate replacement at Lock 22/23 aka Groundhog Lock. In undertaking these two projects, there was much to learn regarding inspecting the clues of the past construction and applying that knowledge into the new plans, while, at the same time, considering how to provide for the best longevity.

A good example of this would be the simple design of the vertical wickets located on the Lock 22/23 drop gate. Upon observing the wickets of the old gate in operation, one could notice that the water flowing through the wickets typically was directed toward the stone walls of the lock. This ultimately resulted in unwanted scouring and erosion. A new design for the wickets was developed , which retains their historic locations, style and materials, while incorporating an unseen design element that prevents the wickets from turning too far and thus safely diverts the water to the center of the Canal.

As you read this article, it is my hope that the Tinicum Aqueduct repair project will be fully complete. Early in the week of September 28, towpath users could once again cross the aqueduct’s pedestrian bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted trip upon the towpath through Tinicum Township.

As with the two projects mentioned earlier, the completion of the Tinicum Aqueduct will allow for water to once again continue south, and it is the ultimate hope that the water will flow free as far south as nature will allow.

In anticipation of this, the Delaware Canal State Park maintenance staff has been endeavoring to repair known sinkholes and remove gravel bars at the intersections of streams that enter the Canal. These efforts reduce the loss of water and ultimately allow for better control over the f low rates and levels as the water makes its long journey from the Lehigh River in Easton. This flow is meant to continue to the inlet in New Hope near Lock 8, where it is augmented with water from the Delaware River. The combined flows then head south toward Bristol.

In addition to the work being done to provide water, the seasonal mowing has been ongoing. Please continue to be patient as our mowing schedule was greatly interrupted during both the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The mowing issues occurred because of a temporary loss of a critical piece of mowing equipment in 2019, and then once more in 2020 due to staffing restrictions at the onset of the COVID-19 mitigation efforts and equipment breakdowns. Please know that we are working hard to complete this work and return the Canal to a less wild state.

Looking into the future, I no longer see the uncertainty I felt just three short months ago. With the clarity of reviewing what we have accomplished in relation to the past, I can say with conviction that we are moving forward.
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Events that We’re Missing this October

THE 11TH ANNUAL FACES AND PLACES
A Celebration of the Arts and History along the Canal

Oh, the places that we have toured, the people we’ve met, and the celebrations we’ve had.
And will again!

Boarding a bumpy Bucks County Trolley for the first Faces and Places tour.

THE 33RD ANNUAL CANAL WALK

Hiking 58.9 miles along the Delaware Canal towpath
over the course of five successive Saturdays is a Friends’ tradition that has overcome
many obstacles—floods, construction projects, heat waves, and snow. It will return.

The 2009 Canal Walkers at Groundhog Lock.

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An Untraditional Calendar of Events

POP-UP SHORT WALKS

Locations, Dates, and Times are sent via Constant Contact and posted on fodc.org.

We began our series of “Green Phase” short walks on July 17. After doing six walks at different locations along the Canal, we have a good sense of what works in these unusual times.

To avoid crowds on the towpath and in parking areas, we’ve learned to schedule the walks on weekdays in the later hours of the afternoon. We now know how many reservations to take in advance to yield an acceptable number of participants on the day of the walk, and we know not to post the invitations too far in advance because of
constantly changing conditions. Walkers have been very cooperative about wearing masks and social distancing! Susan Taylor and her portable PA system are still working on being happy together.

Walk along towpath in Tinicum — Taking in Tinicum on September 23

We plan to continue the short walk series through autumn and as winter weather allows. In fact, we divided up the 58.9-milelong Canal into 23 different walk sections, so we have plenty of material. The walk lengths vary from 2.2 to 6.2 miles roundtrip, with most averaging 3 miles. As the seasons change, we anticipate that we can add weekend and morning walks to the schedule.

If you would like to take a walk with the Friends, watch for our Constant Contact e-mails and check out Events on the homepage of www.fodc.org. To date, we have not been posting the walks on our Facebook page because the existing demand has been higher than we can accommodate.

The walks fill very quickly, so don’t hesitate to make your reservations. If you don’t receive our Constant Contact messages, sign up please. It’s the fastest way to receive information.

Hope to walk with you soon!

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The Cares Act can help you help the Friends

We need your generosity more than ever this year. A significant part of our organization’s planned 2020 revenue has been lost because COVID restrictions and precautions have led to the cancellation of all of our fundraising events since March.

The Cares Act graphic The federal Cares Act may provide a way for you to increase your contribution to the Friends. The Act allows you to be more generous with funds that you might otherwise pay in taxes. If you use the standard deduction, as most taxpayers did in 2019, you may take a special charitable deduction of $300 per taxpayer ($600 for a married couple) on your 2020 return. If you itemize, you can give and deduct as much as your entire Adjusted Gross Income.

If you are thinking about making a major gift from your IRA someday, this might be the best year to be especially generous. Thanks to the enhanced benefit to those who itemize deductions, you can withdraw as much as you want from your IRA, donate as much as you want, and deduct the donation. Of course, you need to meet the usual rules for penalty-free IRA withdrawals.

Please do not take our word for it. Learn more by searching “2020 charitable contributions.” For large donations, we recommend consulting a tax advisor.

On November 13, 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

This year prove Ben wrong, just a bit, by letting your contribution to the Friends reduce your taxes.

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NICE SAVE!

On October 31, the long, narrow Delaware Canal State Park will gain some width in Washington Crossing. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will acquire all 118 acres of the David Library of the American Revolution property as well as the adjoining 25-acre Sol and Rose Woods. The spacious riverfront site, through which the Delaware
Canal runs, will remain open space with public accessibility for everyone to enjoy. John Hallas, Director of the Bureau of State Parks noted, “The site is a perfect location for a canal interpretive center as well as an administrative and maintenance center for the Delaware Canal State Park.”

There will surely be much more news about the acquisition, but, for now, here is a story from the property’s past when it was known as Buckstone Farm.

Ezra Stone in publicity photo on Buckstone Farm. The Library’s founder Sol Feinstone acquired Buckstone Farm in 1945. He and his family lived in the stone farmhouse that is the centerpiece of the property. Sol Feinstone’s son, Ezra Stone, already had become famous playing Henry Aldrich on the popular radio show, “The Aldrich Family.” In September of 1945, Stone was discharged from the Army, and he returned to the cast of the radio show. He stayed with it until the fall of 1949, when sponsors decided to make it a television show. Stone’s association with the show ended because he was almost 30 years-old—too old to be believable as the 14-year-old Henry Aldrich.

This photo was taken in the late 1940’s and was included in the archives of the David Library. Its story isn’t definitively known, but it is probable that Ezra Stone invited his cast mates to visit him at his father’s home. They turned it into a working weekend by taking publicity shots with holiday themes. In this shot, House Jameson (Mr. Aldrich), Ezra Stone (Henry Aldrich), and Jackie Kelk (Henry’s friend Homer) are out on the Buckstone Farm grounds hunting for the Thanksgiving turkey. The Canal, out of view, and the lawn leading to the Delaware River are in the background.

The Friends are thankful that the David Library property will be preserved and remain accessible to the public and so pleased to have even more stories to tell about what happened along the Delaware Canal.

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A 9-11 Bench Returns

Putting the replaced 9-11 Bench to use are Friends’ member Barbara Heisler,
representing the Martha Washington Garden Club; and Canal Action Team
members, Josh Gradwohl and Jerry Taylor, who installed the bench on a very
humid day.

One of the teak benches placed along the Delaware Canal in memory of the eighteen Bucks County residents who perished on September 11, 2001 has been replaced thanks to the care and generosity of the members of the Martha Washington Garden Club.

The bench honors William (Billy) Kelly, Jr., a Yardley Borough resident. Its placement along the towpath just north of Woodside Road is near his hometown and close to the landing for the Scudder Falls Bridge walkway, which is to open in 2021. Those who sit on the bench in the summertime can enjoy the native, bright red Cardinal Flowers blooming. This area is one of the few spots along the Canal where they grow in relative abundance.

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We’ll be Ready

“Do the PA/NJ Canal Loops” is a recreational opportunity that the Friends of the Delaware Canal introduced to the public in 2005. Since then, it has become one of the most popular features of both the Delaware Canal in Pennsylvania and the Delaware & Raritan Canal in New Jersey attracting increasing numbers of visitors each year. The five loops connected by six bridges spur more cross river usage from bicyclists and hikers, who are happy to discover new places and not backtrack.

A new Canal Loop will be available next year when the walkway attached to the I-295 Scudder Falls Bridge opens. This sixth loop will provide new, shorter looping routes in the southern end of the Canal. The routes will be:
• Leave the Delaware Canal towpath at Washington Crossing, PA > cross the river bridge at Washington Crossing > enter the D&R Canal towpath at Washington Crossing, NJ > follow the D&R south to Ewing, NJ > cross the Scudder Falls Bridge > rejoin the Delaware Canal towpath in Lower Makefield, PA > then follow the Delaware Canal back to Washington Crossing PA. A 6.7-mile loop.
• Leave the Delaware Canal towpath in Lower Makefield, PA > cross the Scudder Falls Bridge > enter the D&R Canal towpath at Ewing, NJ > follow the D&R south to Trenton, NJ > cross the Calhoun Street Bridge > rejoin the Delaware Canal towpath in Morrisville, PA > then follow the Delaware Canal back to Lower Makefield, PA. A 10.6 mile loop.

When the new Scudder Falls walkway opens, the existing loop trail map and signs will be obsolete. Anticipating that fine day, the Friends developed a plan to create a new map, incorporate that map into fourteen signs that will replace the signs that now stand by the loop crossing points in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and install two new sign bases at the landings at either end of the Scudder Falls pedestrian walkway.

The $4,500 project has been funded by a $3,000 tourism grant from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau and $1500 contribution from Friends’ members and Washington Crossing residents, Barbara and Gordon Heisler. Our hearty thanks to both for investing in the potential benefits of the sixth loop. The redesign of the map is already underway, and the new sign panels should be fabricated by early 2021. The Friends’ Canal Action Team will be set to do the installations when the appropriate time arrives.
We’re looking forward to the day.

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NEED SOME DIVERSION?

Painted Turtle Along Towpath — The Painted Turtle is waiting for you to put together its pieces. PHOTO: Carole Mebus

Try piecing together our growing collection
of online jigsaw puzzles featuring the beauty
and wildlife of the Delaware Canal. You can
choose the number of pieces, so the extent
of the challenge is up to you. Find the Jigsaw
Puzzle Archive at fodc.org/jigsaw-puzzles.

P.S. For those of you who prefer an old fashioned
puzzle, we hope to have another
one to offer as a fundraiser next year. Would
you like an image of a bald eagle, a great blue
heron, or…?

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PUMP IN WAITING

The centrifugal pump, which will draw water from the Delaware River for the benefit of the Canal when it is water starved, is sitting at the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park ready to be dropped into the River and hooked up. The service “road” down to the River was installed this summer and has already
come to the notice of local emergency service providers f or use in river rescues.

By August during a typical year, the Delaware River level would have dropped below the New Hope inlet, and the Canal would be without a water supply. This year, the summer was unusually rainy, and the level wasn’t an issue until mid-September. Fortunately, the rain soon returned and improved water flow.

The rainy summer was advantageous in that there are still two small hurdles to jump before the pump can be put into operation. The PA Fish and Boat Commission must approve the pump intake, and the Delaware River Basin Commission must give its final approval.

At this point in the season, it seems that the best decision is to wait until next spring to drop the pump into the River saving on equipment wear and tear and electricity costs. The pump saga continues.

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SHARING THE TOWPATH TRAIL: MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

Our appreciation for all that nature has to offer has soared during these strange times. Here in our backyard, there has been a considerable increase in the number of visitors taking advantage of local, County, and State parks. At the Delaware Canal State Park, visitation has increased by 40% with peaks up to 100%.

We are happy to see so many people taking advantage of the Canal towpath; however, this surge has created some friction among visitors. Navigating the crowds on foot or on a bike
can be challenging, so here are some tips to keep in mind.

Signal your intentions
Whether you are jogging, biking, walking your dog, or riding a horse, it is important to alert others of your intentions. Let your fellow trail users know you are coming and give a clear warning signal before passing on a bike. A friendly greeting or bell is considerate and works well. Indicate “On your left” when passing on the left.

Slow it down
When biking along the towpath, be sure to slow down when passing other trail users or going through the towns and hamlets along the way. A slower pace not only eliminates the risk of alarm or injury, but it encourages a pace ideal for taking in the scenery and wildlife.

Be aware
The towpath is only 12 or so-feetwide, so keep this in mind and avoid wandering onto private property. Be mindful of low bridge clearances and limited lines of sight, and be prepared to walk a bicycle under these structures when necessary. When in a group, use no more than half of the trail so you don’t block the flow of other users. And to help keep the towpath clean, pick-up along the way.

Horse, bikes and dog walkers on the towpath What’s wrong with this picture?
Answer: The dog walker and equestrians are yielding to the bicyclists. Trail use rules say that bicyclists should yield to all types of users. Also, the bicyclists are not wearing helmets, increasing the probability of incurring serious injury in a fall.

The Delaware Canal towpath is a very popular destination now. It has attracted the attention of travel writers and day-trippers alike.
Let’s all do what we can to ensure trail users have a naturally wonderful experience.

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Canal News – Summer 2020

Another Camelback Bridge Project Crossed Off the To-Do List

Work in progress at the Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge

Extensive repair work on the historic camelback bridge that crosses the Delaware Canal in the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park has been completed. To preserve one the canal’s most iconic and well-used structures, the Friends raised $78,000 in private contributions to fund the project. Thank you!

The work was completed by camelback bridge restoration expert Randall Myer of R-Shell Exteriors, Lancaster, PA. Myer and his assistant Jane Martin arrived on site in late January. The weather was cooperative, but the pandemic wasn’t. They were drawn off the job by the COVID-19 restrictions, and then returned to the project in May when construction activities were allowed.

After elevating, then stabilizing the bridge on cribbing, the main floor beams, posts, cross bracing, X braces, roof boards, and many deck boards were replaced with appropriate timber. The bridge then received its coatings of signature barn red stain. The final inspection by representatives from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Friends took place on June 3.

The Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge is one of only six along the 58.9-mile-long canal that still retains its authentic structure. The camelback design was used on the Delaware Canal because it has a slight hump in the middle allowing clear passage of canal boats underneath. Today they are picturesque and useful reminders of the canal’s colorful past.

At the final inspection of the Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge (from left) – Jane Martin and Randall Myer from R-Shell Exteriors, Bethany Hare, Delaware Canal State Park Assistant Manager; Eugene Gelfand, consulting engineer to DCNR; and Susan Taylor, Friends of the Delaware Canal.

The Friends of the Delaware Canal’s quest to restore and preserve the six remaining camelbacks began in 2002. Since then, five of the six have been restored. Their quest continues.

Friends’ volunteers undertake maintenance projects each year to keep the already restored bridges in good condition. The Upper Black Eddy Ready Response Team (UBERRT) will be restaining Hazzard’s Camelback Bridge this summer, and the Canal Action Team (CAT) will be applying their stain brushes to the Goat Farm Camelback Bridge, as well as cutting back vegetation that tries its best to engulf the bridge approaches.

The sixth bridge, Spahr’s Camelback Bridge in Upper Black Eddy, is a victim of earthquake damage and extensive deterioration. Its restoration is a major undertaking and remains a goal.

We are very grateful to the many generous contributors to this project, who love the camelback bridges and ensure their preservation. With special thanks to the Goodfellow Fund, Judy and Joe Franlin, Barbara and Peter Sperry, and Susan Taylor.

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Park Manager’s Report

by Devin Buzard

As you may have already gleaned from other articles in this issue of Canal News, we are nearing a predictable end to several large-scale construction projects along the northern end of the Canal.

These much needed replacements and repairs necessitated the dewatering of the Canal. The bypass gate that feeds Lehigh River water into the Canal was closed last fall. The waterway is essentially without water, but when it can be found in sporadic stretches, its source is stormwater runoff or local streams that flow directly into the Canal.

While there have been setbacks with recent events and the temporary cessation of some work, I am still optimistic that we will be able to introduce water once again as early as August.

As spring transitions into summer, I am finding it is difficult to predict what the next few months will bring. You will see an increase in boom mowing (long reach) along the banks as summer continues. We recently replaced this critical piece of machinery that was lost to a roll-over accident last year.

And, despite being faced with so much recent uncertainty, I have been inspired to see that the good work of the Friends has not faltered over the past few months. Most notably, I witnessed the fulfillment of a primary mission of the Friends – the restoration of an authentic camelback bridge in the skilled hands of an expert craftsman.

While there could be no large ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge when the project was completed, I know that one would have been well-attended. A repair of this scale only exists with many supporters. I appreciate the Friend’s commitment to preserving our historic structures and proud to know that this bridge will go on to bear the footsteps of future generations.

Out on the towpath, I am sure you have noticed the increase in visitation and may have even personally witnessed a new user, who is still unfamiliar with trail etiquette. While the increase in traffic may at times be frustrating, it is important to remember that this influx of recreational users truly indicates the importance of our public lands that you, as Friends of the Delaware Canal, already know and support. While this trend in visitation may not last forever, it is my hope that the appreciation for places like the Delaware Canal will not fade.

The Friends heartily thank all the Delaware Canal State Park staff for keeping the towpath and waterway open during these extremely challenging times!

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Calendar of Events

??????????????

Person walking on the canal path — Always open.

COVID-19 has sucked the certainty out of the Friends’ plans for 2020. You already know more than you’d like about the hazards of gathering in groups and being in enclosed spaces,
so we won’t belabor the reasons why our organization has decided to cancel some of our traditional events and reconfigure others.

The Friends of the Delaware Canal is a Pennsylvania State Parks friends organization. As such, we must and want to comply with the directives
that are issued by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Those directives are based on the Center for Disease Control and Department of Health guidelines.

When you receive this newsletter, the Counties of Bucks and Northampton may be in the Green Phase, “the new normal.” At this point, the Friends’ “new normal” means that we will plan on having walks, but the number of participants will be limited to 20 people, who will social distance and wear masks. Reservations will be required. And, yes, we will have a sound amplification system, so there won’t be the need to huddle together to hear.

Canal Action Team (CAT) projects, such as bridge painting and vegetation removal, will go forward with precautions in place. The number of volunteers on each project will be limited to five, the work will take place outdoors, and no contact with the general public made. We would dearly love to take on some small group clean-up activities to make up for missing the Friends’ annual Canal Clean-Up Day, but there is just too much poison ivy growing on the banks to risk it. (And now you know why our annual cleanup is scheduled in very early April.)

Later this year, it may be possible to have some programs, such as photo shows or presentations by speakers, but it will depend upon how well COVID-19 is tamed. Plans are being made for virtual alternates, if need be. We will not be having our Paddle the Canal events in partnership with the State Park Educators this summer and fall. The need to sanitize the kayaks, paddles, and PFDs and be in close proximity during instruction and launching has ruled paddling out.

Our practice of carpooling people from the starting and finishing points of the Friends’ annual 58.9-mile long Canal Walk has complicated the decision about whether or not the Walk will be held this year.

Unfortunately, Faces and Places–A Celebration of the Arts and History Along the Delaware Canal has been canceled. Nearly all of the event arrangements for the Friends’ major fundraiser must be made well in advance, so the cancellation became inevitable. Plans are already underway for Faces and Places 2021.

Meanwhile, as the way forward becomes clear, we will let you know the what, where, and whens about upcoming activities. If you’ve provided your e-mail address, you will receive announcements via Constant Contact. The events will be posted on the www.fodc.org and listed on the Friends’ Facebook page.

It’s been very strange to be without events and activities since early March. We very much miss seeing you, and hope to be able to change that, at least somewhat, soon.

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BUTTON, BUTTON

THE FRIENDS HAVE A BUTTON

You can get yours absolutely free at the Locktender’s House in New Hope or at a Friends’ event.
Many thanks to Board member Jeff Connell for being our button benefactor!

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SMILING AT THE LOCKTENDER’S HOUSE

Even though the interior of the little museum at Locktender’s House at Lock 11 in New Hope is currently closed to visitors because of the COVID-19 restrictions, the Friends are still
sharing the Canal’s stories.

On weekends, Susan Schneider, our Locktender’s House guide, sits on the front porch. Decked out in her long skirt, homespun blouse, and mask, she has been greeting visitors and providing
them with information about the many aspects of the towpath and waterway.

Susan Schneider’s expression can’t be seen behind
her mask, but a painted stone, hid by a kind
someone nearby, makes it clear that there’s a smile
under there.

****

Hand painted rock reminding people to wear masks

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The Construction Countdown
3 – 2 – 1 – Done

Completion is in sight for three major Canal construction projects. (Please knock on wood. This is no time to jinx anything.)

The northern end of the Canal from Easton to New Hope has been essentially dewatered since last fall. The bypass gate that supplies water from the Lehigh River was closed to allow work to begin on three projects during the winter/early spring. The timing of the dewatering was dictated by the restrictions concerning the habitat of the red belly turtle, a PA threatened species.

The three projects are:

• The replacement of the northern drop gate on Groundhog Lock aka Locks 22/23 in Raubsville
• The replacement of the Fry’s Run aka Kleinhans Aqueduct in Williams Township
• The repair of the berm bank blowout and structural damage at the Tinicum Aqueduct (The steel trough that conveys water over Tinicum Creek is not being replaced as part of this project.)

The first estimate for the completion of the three projects was May 2020, but then came the obstacles. Access agreement issues, problems with bids, a tree falling on a big piece of equipment, and, of course, COVID-19 shutdowns.

Now, in June, it almost seems miraculous to be able to report that all three projects are expected to be completed by early fall, at the latest, thanks to the diligence of DCNR and the contractors. We hope that there are no additional delays to be encountered due to material availability or personnel shortages due to COVID-19.

From North to South:

The massive timber drop gate for Groundhog Lock is being built in the shop of Methods and Materials Building Company of Gilbertsville, PA. (This is the same company that constructed the drop gate and miter gates for the Lock 11 rehabilitation.) The Delaware Canal State Park maintenance staff has cleaned out the gate chamber and is in the process of replacing the timbers on which the gate will rest. When the new gate arrives, the Park staff will install it. The project is anticipated to be finished in August at a cost of $44,000.

On August 11, 2018, three inches of rain fell in less than an hour turning Fry’s Run in Williams Township into a torrent heading to the Delaware River. The Fry’s Run aka Kleinhans Aqueduct stood in its way and lost the fight. Parts of the aqueduct and its supporting structure were torn away. As an interim measure to maintain water f low in the Canal, DCNR installed two pipes where the aqueduct had been. Last winter, Loftus Construction of Cinnaminson, NJ began work on the new aqueduct. In mid-June, the $780,000 project was 99% complete.

The northern berm bank and canal prism at the Tinicum Aqueduct were also victims of torrential rains. Tinicum Creek raged in June of 2017, collapsing the earthen structures at the aqueduct, but the steel trough and its pedestrian bridge remained intact. Tinicum Aqueduct destruction and reconstruction To keep water flowing southward, DCNR installed a temporary channel. Concurrently, an engineering consultant was engaged to develop plans to restore and strengthen the earthen structures, repair the leaks in the aqueduct’s stone abutments, reinforce its stone pier in the Creek, replace the deteriorated footbridge, and refinish the steel trough.

Clearwater Construction of New Cumberland, PA began the many-faceted, $1.045M job late last winter. Work is currently progressing and expected to be completed in July.

The completion of these three major projects holds the key to rewatering the Canal from Easton to New Hope. It really can’t come soon enough, but the progress that’s been made in spite of all the obstacles this year has been impressive.

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Refreshing the Stories

sign installation at Black Rock Road — Canal Action Team (CAT) volunteer Mark Frey installing the new sign panels at the Black Rock Road Picnic Area.

The Friends is very proud of its significant role in sharing the Delaware Canal’s history Our organization has been involved in the placement of nearly all the interpretive signs that can be found from Easton to Bristol. We both create new signs and improve and replace existing ones when needed.

Late last winter, six sign panels that had been suffering from wear and defacement were replaced through a partnership between the Friends and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail Towns Amenity Grant Program.

New panels, “Where the Water Flows and “A Modern Timber Aqueduct” were installed at either end of the Tohickon Aqueduct in Point Pleasant. The “Canal Boat Graveyard” panel was replaced in Tullytown, and the kiosk at the Black Rock Road Picnic Area in Lower Makefield received three new generic interpretive signs. Clear, crisp text and photos await your visit.

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Tending the Canal

The Friends’ Canal Tender volunteers watch over and care for their sections of the towpath and waterway year-round. The Delaware Canal is so much better for their efforts.

We welcome:

Bill Low, who is a Co-Tender with Aodan and Linda Peacock for the Phillips’ Mill to Centre Bridge section
Eileen Killeen and volunteers from Yardley Friends Meeting will be adding the Woodside Road to Mt. Eyre Road stretch to their tending territory.

Many thanks to our retiring Tenders

Alex Castner and sons Will and James for tending the Wheatsheaf Road to the Conrail Tunnel section
Bob Ketler: Woodside Road to Mt. Eyre
John Manocchio: Lock 11 to Rabbit Run
Ricki Fisher: Bridge Street to Rabbit Run
Marge Copenhaver: Phillips’ Mill to Centre Bridge
Annette Heinz and the “Housewives of Rolling Hills”: Lock 17 to Uhlerstown Covered Bridge

TENDERS ARE NEEDED for these sections, which can be divided into stretches of any length:

Bristol Borough: Riverfront Park to Lagoon Park
Bristol Borough: Lagoon Park to Green Lane
Bristol Twp: Green Lane to Edgely Road
Bristol Twp/Tullytown.: Edgely Road to Levittown Shopping Center (Arby’s)
Falls Twp.: Mill Creek Road to Wheatsheaf Road
Falls Twp.: Wheatsheaf Road toTyburn Road
Falls Twp.: Tyburn Road to Railroad Obstruction
New Hope: Bridge Street to the Rabbit Run Bridge in New Hope
Tinicum Twp: Lock 17 to the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge In Tinicum Township

Can you help? Find out more at fodc.org/help-the-canal/canal-tenders/

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SHARE THE TOWPATH TRAIL, PLEASE

On a recent weekday morning, we witnessed a scene that is all too common these days. A man, focused on his phone screen, was oblivious to a bicyclist who was coming up
behind him on the towpath, and this in spite of her several calls of “On your left” and finally resorting to “Hey, dude.” The man just
continued up the middle of the towpath, and the bicyclist swerved around him narrowly avoiding a fall into the water.

The moral of this story? We all need to be mindful when using the Canal towpath.

During this time of COVID-19, the towpath is experiencing an unprecedented surge in visitation. Many of the bicyclists and walkers have never been to the Delaware Canal State Park before.
These extraordinary circumstances mean that we need to heighten our awareness of whom and what is on the towpath. The extra dividend in this is that we will be more likely to spot the wildflowers and the wildlife. The sight of a dozen turtles lined up on a log is worth a pause.

Wearig masks on a walk along the Delaware Canal in New Hope — Out for a walk along the Delaware Canal in New Hope

Be prepared to wear a mask and social distance.
If you are close to other walkers, runners, or bicyclists, please be ready to put on a mask. The CDC guidelines suggest that all persons, when possible, should maintain at least six feet of distance. This separation often is not possible on the sometimes very narrow towpath. Wearing a mask is the best solution, and it signals that you care about others.

Ride your bicycle with care.
Bicycle tires rolling on the red argillite towpath don’t create much noise, and walkers can be taken by surprise. Cyclists need to make their approaches known by using a bell, calling “on your left,” or simply saying hello to signal the intention to pass. Be mindful of low bridge clearances and limited lines of sight, and be prepared to walk a bicycle under these structures when necessary. And slow down when passing a walker or other cyclist. It is just common courtesy.

Be a good steward of the Delaware Canal State Park.
Keep the towpath clean for all to enjoy. If you take a bottle of water with you, remember to take it home. Please don’t leave used masks and gloves behind. Most restroom facilities are now open for public use, so take care to keep them clean, too.

Just be nice.
If you are traveling in a group, be sure not to block the path for others. Bicycle riders should yield to pedestrians and hikers should yield to equestrians.

The Canal towpath connects many towns, large and small, to an inspiring natural resource. It can be a beautiful day in the neighborhood for all, if we just be mindful.

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WELCOME NEW FRIENDS
Carol & Dan Achord
Lucille Aquilone
Paul & Christine Angulo
John Augustine
Tom Curry
Cindy DeKraft
Linda Fleck
Zachary Henry
Mary Kocubinski
Walter Kocubinski
Sandra & Tom Lavis
Tamie & Douglas Logan
Joanne McDonald
Patricia & Tim Merkel
Mark Miller
Michael Mitrano
Eileen O’Mahony
Sydney Mason
Paul & Casey Pane
Steve Robinson
Ian Skuse
Kate Smith
Michael Swartley
Michael Tavella
John Wehmiller
Michael Yalowitz

Canal News – Spring 2019

Good Riddance

Thanks to generous year-end contributions from our members, the Friends have been able to contract with T&T Tree Service for the removal of some of the most problematic trees along the Canal.

The dangerous black locust arch in Lower Makefield will be coming down.

Ever since Hurricane Sandy, trees have been falling at much too rapid a rate. The Park staff has admirably persevered, but the removal of some of the trees requires special handling and equipment because of their sizes and locations. T&T Tree Service will have use lift trucks to access out- of-the-way limbs and wield chainsaws while floating in kayaks. A mulberry tree leaning “drastically” over the Canal in New Hope will be removed. A big box elder will be extracted from the water in Morrisville, and a large black locust teetering over the towpath in Lower Makefield will no longer be a threat. Also, T&T will be cutting down a swath of Ailanthus Altissima (Tree of Heaven) that is growing on a 400-foot section of canal bank in New Hope, and then they will treat the stumps with herbicide so that there is no regrowth. Tree of Heaven is the favorite food of the destructive Spotted Lanternfly, which invaded our area last year.

T&T hopes to begin work soon before the ground softens (although the guys in the kayaks are probably wishing for warmer weather.) If all goes well with this project, the Friends may contract for the removal of several leaning trees near Groundhog Lock in Raubsville.

The Friends are pleased to be of help with the Canal’s tree plague. And we thank everyone who clears manageable branches off the towpath to make way for visitors.

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A New One

When it comes to canal problems, many seem like déjà vu. We all know about sinkholes, collapses, overflows…, but now there’s a brand new issue – broken teeth. The feeder gate at Easton, which allows Lehigh River water to flow into the Delaware Canal, has several broken gear teeth. The lack of teeth makes it difficult to open and close the gate, therefore, the Park staff has been maintaining the gate at a half-open level resulting in a typical “winter maintenance level”.

The gear component needs to be removed and taken to a machine shop for tooth repair. To remove the component, the feeder gate must be fully opened, something that the Park staff does not want to do while there is still the threat of a winter solid freeze. (If the Canal freezes over with a full head of water in it, there is the very real possibility that the waste gates would freeze shut and heavy rain or snow would cause the Canal to overtop its banks.) As soon as the threat of frozen waste gates disappears, the gear component will be removed, sent to the repair shop, and, we hope, back in time to allow a full Canal in the spring.

In other news, heavy rain displaced the bypass channel liner at the Tinicum Aqueduct. To stop the liner from being undermined by overflowing water, the Park staff is currently diverting water out of the Canal at the waste gate by the Golden Pheasant Inn, just north of the aqueduct. The liner needs to be pulled back into place, but due to its fragility in freezing weather, the pulling needs to wait for warmer temperatures to arrive.

The Fry’s Run Aqueduct replacement project in Williams Township and the Tinicum Aqueduct repair project are still on track to be put out to bid this spring. The bidding and acceptance process generally takes approximately 90 days with commencement of the work beginning shortly thereafter.

This winter’s cold, rain, high winds, and flu have put a damper on progress along the Canal, but we’ll get beyond it.

Come on, Spring!

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A Familiar Face

George Calaba has been appointed as the new Park Operations Manager for Delaware Canal State Park Complex, which includes Ralph Stover State Park and associated resources such as the Nockamixon Cliffs and the Delaware River Island Natural Areas.

His name and face are familiar because he served as Assistant Park Manager at Delaware Canal under Rick Dalton and, up until March 1, was the Manager at Washington Crossing Historic Park.

George is a veteran of the US Navy and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Geography. Following a brief stint as a counselor for at-risk youth, he attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a Master of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning. Since joining the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 2000, he has gained invaluable knowledge and skill while working as a manager at seven state parks.

In his first e-mail to the Friends upon his return, he wrote “ Looking forward to working with the Friends and doing good things for the Canal. I really enjoyed my time there under Rick and am excited to further the great work done thus far.”

Welcome Back, George!

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Win – Win

For more than 20 years, the Friends have had the great pleasure of taking part in two local festivals. Each January, we partner with the Delaware and Raritan Canal Watch to host a Two Canal, One River walking tour during the Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival. This year, through the wonders of Facebook sharing, 300 people arrived ready to explore.

Kids decorate Canal Ducks at the Tinicum Arts Festival.

In July, the Friends are invited to set up a booth at the Tinicum Arts Festival where we share information about the Canal and sell some t-shirts and hats, too. Over the years, we’ve introduced thousands of people to the Delaware Canal.

Both festivals are excellent friend-making opportunities – a definite win.

Each year, after the festivals are over, we are privileged to receive generous contributions from the organizers – Twin Rivertown Projects, Inc. and the Tinicum Civic Association. With the objective of improving the community, the organizing groups share their event proceeds with non-profits working in their communities – a second win.

The Friends have benefited from our festival participation in so many ways. We’re very thankful and want to continue to be part of the fun for many years to come.

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The Difference is Clear

The efforts of our dedicated Canal Tenders, who take care of their sections of the waterway and towpath throughout the year, are clearly evident – trash collected, branches and debris cleared, and problems reported promptly to the State Park staff. We are so grateful for their diligence and hard work.

At the beginning of each year, we check in with all the Tenders. This year, four have decided to “retire.” We heartily thank David and Vicky Child, who tended between the Rabbit Run and Phillips’ Mill Bridges in New Hope; Jose Acevado, whose section was from Beaver Street to the Lagoon in Bristol Borough; and Harry Dozer, who helped care for the section of Canal from Bridge 2 to Bridge 3 in Smithtown, for their years of service.

Much of the Canal has been adopted by Tenders, but there are still some “orphan” stretches. Please consider volunteering to close these last gaps. Individuals, couples, and groups are very welcome.

Bristol Borough – Riverfront Park to Green Lane
Bristol Township – Green Lane to the south end of the Levittown Shopping Center
Tullytown Borough/ Falls Township – Levittown Shopping Center to Wheatsheaf Road
Solebury Township – Rabbit Run Bridge to Phillips’ Mill Bridge

These sections can be divided into smaller stretches.

To learn more about what’s involved in being a Canal Tender, visit fodc.org and click on Help. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at 215-862-2021 or friends@fodc.org.

The Canal needs you!

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Delaware Canal Clean-Up Day Work Areas

Saturday, April 6, 2019

The list of this year’s work areas follows. The names of the Clean-Up Day Coordinators or Canal Tenders are included for each area. Help is especially needed in areas highlighted in red. Please contact your local coordinator to volunteer.

Bristol Borough: Lagoon Park to Riverfront Park
Mary Kehoe and Dave McGlynn jodi.marydave@verizon.net

Bristol Borough: Green Lane to Lagoon Park
Brett Webber, Coordinator – 215-840-2034 bw@bwadesign.com

Bristol Twp.: Levittown Shopping Center (former Sonic) to Green Lane
Ed Armstrong & GOAL (Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown) –edarmstrong@verizon.net

Falls Twp./Tullytown: Mill Creek Road to Levittown Shopping Center
Jeff Connell, Canal Tender – 732-581-9464 jeffconnell@comcast.net

Falls Twp.: Falls Twp. Park to Mill Creek Road
Boy Scout Troop 46 – Renee Thompson, Coordinator

Falls Twp.: Tyburn Road to Wheatsheaf Road
Susan Taylor – 215-493-6625 susanhtaylor@verizon.net

Falls Twp.: Railroad Obstruction to Wheatsheaf Road
Alex Castner, Canal Tender

Morrisville: Bridge Street to the Railroad Obstruction
Lynn Vogel and Josh Gradwohl, Canal Tenders – 215-595-6114 lvogel419@comcast.net A volunteer with a boat / kayak would be welcome.

Morrisville: Trenton Avenue to Bridge Street
Mayor Dave Rivella, Coordinator – 215-295-5030 mayordaverivella@aol.com

Lower Makefield Twp. /Morrisville: Black Rock Road to Trenton Avenue
Hal Long & Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club, Canal Tenders – 215-493-4962 hlong2306@gmail.com

Yardley/Lower Makefield Twp.: Afton Avenue to Black Rock Road
Ann and Keith Webb, Canal Tenders – 215-295-4063 wweebbss@hotmail.com

Lower Makefield Twp./Yardley: Woodside Road to Afton Avenue
Eileen Kileen & Yardley Friends Meeting – 609-947-4259 eileenk29@gmail.com

Lower Makefield Twp./Yardley: Mt. Eyre Road to Woodside Road
Bob Ketler, Canal Tender – 267-566-2759 rjktlr80@msn.com

Upper Makefield Twp.: Stoney Run Aqueduct to Mt. Eyre Road
Gordon Heisler & Traditions Volunteers, Canal Tenders

Solebury Twp./Upper Makefield Twp.: Bowman’s Hill to Stoney Run Aqueduct
Central Bucks Bicycle Club – Nora and Randy Schenk, Canal Tenders

New Hope: Lock 9 to Bowman’s Hill
Ray and Sara Altieri, Canal Tenders

New Hope: Rabbit Run to Lock 9
Pam Can & New Hope Garden Club

Solebury Twp.: Phillips’ Mill to Rabbit Run
Katie and Jim Wolf, Canal Tenders – wolfdoc70@comcast.net

Solebury Twp.: Centre Bridge to Phillips’ Mill
Marge Copenhaver and Aodan and Linda Peacock, Canal Tenders

Solebury Twp.: Virginia Forrest to Centre Bridge
Daniel Schwager, Canal Tender

Solebury Twp.: Lock 12 to Virginia Forrest Recreation Area
Sheree Cote and Tom Lurz – Canal Tenders

Point Pleasant: Mountainside Inn to Lock 12
Sally and Bill Getchell, Canal Tenders

Point Pleasant: Bridge 2 to Mountainside Inn
Hank Goldberg, Canal Tender

Tinicum Twp.: Bridge 3 to Bridge 2
Peter Shaw, Canal Tender

Tinicum Twp.: Lock 17 to Bridge 3
Thomas Fryer, Canal Tender

Tinicum Twp.: Uhlerstown to Lock 17
Appalachian Mountain Club, Del Val Chapter and the Housewives of Rolling Hills, Canal Tenders

Tinicum Twp.: Lodi to Uhlerstown
Happy & Sam Shipley, Canal Tenders

Upper Black Eddy: Berm Lane to Lodi
Janice Armstrong and Steve Schlosser – Canal Tenders

Upper Black Eddy: Indian Rock to Berm Lane
Larry Reinfeld and Upper Black Eddy Rapid Response Team

Riegelsville/ Upper Black Eddy: Mueller’s Store to Indian Rock Inn
Mark Greaney, Canal Tender

Williams Twp.: Wy-Hit-Tuk Park to Mueller’s Store
Carole Mebus, Canal Tender

Easton to Wy-Hit-Tuk Park
Pete Rosswaag – 610-982-9789 – ruswog@verizon.net

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Spring Returns

As the warblers return to the Canal in May, you will be receiving your Friends of the Delaware Canal membership renewal request for the year 2019.

Please support all that we do to improve the Canal in our ongoing quest to make it a better and more beautiful place for people (and Yellow Warblers) to return.

We welcome checks because we save on credit card fees, but also are happy to have you renew online. Just click Join on the main menu and navigate to the Renew Your Membership page.

Thank You!

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Welcome, New Friends

Mark Greaney

Lynne Kemler

Michael Pietsch

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Just in Case

We are hoping against hope that when spring arrives, the weather will get less quirky, but it doesn’t, here’s what to do. If you are in doubt about whether or not a Friends’ event will be held, please check the list of Coming Events on the homepage of fodc.org. A Go/No Go message will be posted at least 4 hours prior to the starting time.

Canal News – Winter 2018

The Canal Gets Signs With Help from Our Friends

The Friends of the Delaware Canal are pleased to report that four interpretive sign projects will move forward this year. Two involve replacement of sign panels that are the worse for wear after 20+ years. The other two will create new and long-awaited signs that will allow visitors to better understand what took place at special sites.

The Friends, Bristol Borough Council, the Grundy Foundation, Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau, and the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation have collaborated to replace the nine interpretive signs that tell the story of the Delaware Canal as it passed through Historic Bristol Borough from the Lagoon to Riverfront Park. Not only will the panels be replaced, but the content will be revised to include new information and photographs.

More interpretive signs are on their way, all the better for visitors to read.

Eighteen wayside signs that tell the basic story of the Delaware Canal will be replaced thanks to the generosity of thirteen guests who enthusiastically contributed to their cost during the auction at October’s Faces and Places benefit.

The lost town of Uhlersville and the powerhouse at Groundhog Lock in Raubsville will have their stories shared on a new three-panel kiosk sign thanks to the initiative of several local residents and a generous contribution from the Williams Township Board of Supervisors.

A wayside sign about the fascinating history of Smithtown in Tinicum Township will be created through a contribution in memory of dedicated, long-time member Tom Copenhaver.

Exciting and challenging days lie ahead as text is written, illustrations are found, and the signs are designed – all in the quest to share the Delaware Canal’s rich history in the best, most understandable way.

We are so grateful to all our partners for their support of these efforts.

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The Flowable Fill Solution

by Tony Giacobbe, Regional Engineer, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Park Region #4, and Bilal Baqai, Civil Engineer, PA DCNR, Park Region #4

Sinkholes have been an issue in the more recent history of the Delaware Canal, and an especially incessant and serious problem in 2017. Sinkholes are openings that develop in the canal prism and tend to be most prevalent in areas where the Canal is adjacent to high rock walls and their associated shallow bedrock.

The fractures in the upper strata of the bedrock serve as erosion channels or “pipelines” for the materials, such as soil and gravel, which lie under the Canal’s clay liner. The channels were revealed by the use of ground penetration radar (GPR) during DCNR’s latest study to understand why sinkholes form.

Previously, DCNR’s best practices included over-excavating the sinkhole, placing some bentomat (a geosynthetic clay liner), then finally packing clay above the liner to canal-bed elevation. This practice did not seem effective since there were locations where this repair had been done multiple times.

To minimize costs of repairing the same areas, alternatives were considered for repairing sinkholes. “Flowable fill” was chosen as an inexpensive and effective material for the task. Flowable fill consists of Portland cement, fine aggregate, fly ash, water, and may contain other admixtures as needed (admixtures are materials that are added to the basic mix to change or improve the quality of the product). Like concrete, flowable fill cures over time, but its curing process is less restrictive. The use of flowable fill has become much more common by PennDOT for structural backfilling, pipe and bedding backfilling, and utility trench back filling, among many other uses.

The unique aspect about flowable fill is that it can flow into interstitial spaces without the need of vibrators, and once it settles and cures, it leaves a level surface. Along the Delaware Canal, it has become a much-needed solution to preventing leaks through the fractured bedrock under the Canal.

Once a sinkhole or cavity is identified, it is excavated, if needed, to identify the extent of the cavity. Flowable fill is then poured into the hole to ensure that all voids are plugged. After placement of the flowable fill, the area is lined with clay and compacted. With the restoration of the clay liner, the repair process is complete.

The area where a sinkhole had been repaired with “flowable fill” is covered with clay to restore the Canal’s ability to hold water.

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Thank You So Much!

2018 is off to a splendid start thanks to all of you who so generously responded to the Friends’ Year-End Appeal. We asked you to help us accomplish more in the new year, and you did just that. Your contributions replenish the Canal Improvement Fund.

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See It Before It’s Gone

Beginning in 1794, the River House accommodated rafters and boaters who tied up before making their way through the formidable Wells Falls on the Delaware River in New Hope. When the Delaware Canal opened in 1831, the River House also welcomed canal boatmen on their way south to Bristol. In the 20th century, the River House came to be Odette’s, a popular cabaret and restaurant.

Preparations are well underway to move the original portion of the fieldstone River House inland to the American Legion triangle on South Main Street. The move will make way for the new Riverhouse at Odette’s, a luxury boutique hotel catering to weddings, meetings and special events.

Soon the River House that has stood between the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal for nearly two hundred years will no longer be at the site that gives it meaning. It’s time to take a last look.

Many purposes will be served by the new Riverhouse at Odette’s complex. Sadly, historic preservation is not one of them.

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Park Manager’s Report

Happy New Year!

It has been a cold, snowy winter so far with much of the Canal frozen and snow on the towpath. We still have several weeks of winter to come with, I’m willing to bet, several more snow storms. It may be a good time to dust off the cross-country skis and get them ready for a trip out on the Canal.

We are anticipating the beginning of several projects along the Canal this year. They are: the Kleinhans Aqueduct replacement in Williams Township, the Phillips’ Mill bridge replacement in Solebury Township, the construction of a tunnel through the Conrail embankment near Fairless Hills, and the trail bypass along Tyburn Road.

In addition, development in New Hope at Odette’s is beginning to move forward. The Gateway to New Hope group is in the process of installing a temporary access road at the northern end of Odette’s to provide trail access to Park visitors. They are also preparing and shoring up the oldest portion of the Odette’s building so that it can be moved to its new location at the intersection of New Street and Riverwoods Drive. The move is anticipated to be within the next few months. DCNR is in the process of developing a preliminary plan for its facilities in New Hope including the relocated Odette’s building. The Department is looking at the feasibility of building a classroom space, public restrooms, and a new concession building in New Hope along with repurposing the Odette’s building into a space where educational and interpretive activities can take place. We would also like to make the towpath more accessible by installing an ADA accessible ramp from South Main Street up to the Canal.

Enjoy the Canal!

Josh Swartley

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Want to be a Canal Tender?

Canal Tenders are at work along the entire length of the Canal, and their year-round help is very much appreciated by visitors and the State Park staff. Tenders pick up litter and debris, remove any small obstructions from the towpath, make notifications concerning creeping invasive species, watch for and report significant changes or anything unusual about their section of the Canal, and submit written reports twice each year.

Two of our long-time Tenders have retired because they’ve moved inland. Marge Copenhaver and Robert McEwan cared for their sections for many years and we thank them for all of their efforts and concern.

The “Housewives of Rolling Hills” and their helpers following their tending session out on the Canal from the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge to Lock 17 in Tinicum Township

Although nearly all of the Canal is covered from Easton to Bristol are covered, there are five sections that need adoption.

Bristol Riverfront Park to the Lagoon (0.97 miles)
Beaver Street to Home Depot/Levittown Shopping Center (2.91 miles)
Wheatsheaf Road to the Conrail Obstruction (2.52 miles)
Phillips’ Mill to Centre Bridge (1.54 miles)
Smithtown Bridge 3 to Treasure Island Lock 17 (1.01 miles)

Please let us know if you can help fill these gaps. The sections can be divided into shorter lengths to suit Canal Tender’s needs.

Being a Canal Tender is an interesting and exciting volunteer opportunity. The Canal is ever-changing and Tenders get to experience it all. Please call 215-862-2021 or email friends@fodc.org for more information.

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Opportunity Knocks

Want to help the Friends help the Canal?

Here are some of the ways that you can –

Work with the Canal Action Team (CAT) on projects that require some heft.
Become a Canal Tender. Several sections of the Canal need adoption.
Be part of a Friends’ committee and make things happen. The standing committees are:

Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance
Development
Education and Recreation
Finance
Fundraising
Membership

Check out the Help the Canal page to learn more and feel free to call Susan at 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org with questions or suggestions.

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At the Board Table

During our Annual Meeting on November 14, several actions were taken concerning the Friends’ Board of Directors.

Retiring, but still active, Board member Peter Sperry was honored and thanked for his many accomplishments. The membership re-elected Jeff Connell, Bob Ketler, Eileen O’Neil, Pete Rosswaag, and Brett Webber to additional two-year terms.

Elected to their first terms were Laure Duval and Lawrence Reinfeld.

At its first meeting of the new year, the Board of Directors elected its officers:
Brett Webber – President
Pam Can – Vice- President
Lynn Vogel – Secretary
Judith Franlin – Treasurer

The Board looks forward to making progress in 2018 and having some fun, too.

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Canal News – Summer 2017

Park Manager’s Report

Since my last report, the Park Maintenance Staff has been able to plug up and repair all of the sinkholes in the northern section of the park. We began re-watering the upper section of the Canal at the end of April, and by mid-May the Canal was watered from Easton to New Hope. This was the first time in years that this section has been completely watered.

Then, on June 4th a large blowout was discovered along the berm-side of the Canal at the upstream end of the Tinicum aqueduct. The blowout drained the canal in this area and prevented any water from flowing south of the waste gate near the Golden Pheasant Inn. The towpath was also closed in this section due to the instability of the berm, walls, and aqueduct abutment.

DCNR was able to secure emergency funding and execute an emergency repair contract on June 19 to begin stabilization work on the aqueduct, walls, and towpath. Currently, the contractor is in the process of making these repairs and we anticipate a completion date in mid to late July.

The stabilization work will allow us to open the towpath up again, but will not allow water to flow south. Before any additional work can be completed, DCNR’s design consultants will need to complete some additional inspections of the structure and do geologic testing at the site. Then the plans for a complete repair can be developed, and the project can be put out for bid. In the meantime, after the stabilization work is complete, we will attempt to install a temporary bypass at the site to allow some water to flow through the site and south toward new Hope.

On a more positive note, river levels remain high, enough to provide water to the southern half of the Park from New Hope to Bristol. Good water levels are also being maintained in the north from Easton to Uhlerstown.

I’m pleased to announce that the Conrail Pedestrian Tunnel project in Falls Township has been advertised by PennDOT on its ECMS (Engineering and Construction Management System). The bid opening date is scheduled for July 13, 2017. Barring any issues with the bidding process, the initial job conference and possibly construction could begin as early as October 2017. This project has been a long time in the making and will be a major improvement for visitors who use the towpath in the Morrisville and Falls area. The pedestrian tunnel will eliminate one of the final three trail obstructions along the Canal.

The completion date for the reconstruction of the Lower Limeport Bridge in Solebury Township has been extended to early August, 2017 because of problems procuring the lumber for the faux camelback trusses.

Enjoy the Canal!

By Josh Swartley

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A Pattern to Break

May 2016 – The Canal was watered from Easton to the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area in Solebury Township. The flow from the north was being released through the waste gate at the Recreation Area so as not to inundate the work site of the Redfield Bridge. The pump at Centre Bridge, 1.3 miles to the south, was filling the Centre Bridge to lock 11 in New Hope stretch thanks to the contributions from New Hope for Our Canal. From the New Hope inlet south to Bristol, the water level was good thanks to the Delaware River inflow.

And then came the leaks at the Kleinhans Aqueduct south of Easton. To prevent the collapse of the entire structure, the DCNR engineers ruled that water could no longer flow through it. Much to DCNR’s credit, it quickly moved forward with the installation of two 60″ pipes and associated coffer dams to allow Canal water to flow through the aqueduct structure without exacerbating the structural problem.

The pipes served their intended purpose, but the flow volume through the aqueduct area was reduced, and the water from the north made it no farther than Lumberville unless it was supplemented with rainwater.

May 2017 – The Canal was watered from Easton to Lock 11 in New Hope. In fact, on May 26, the water from the north was flowing over the Centre Bridge coffer dam for the first time in many a year. Hopes were high that the use of the Centre Bridge pump could be reduced saving $1,400 per month in electricity costs. The Canal from the New Hope inlet south to Bristol was beautifully full.

And then during the night of June 4 came the berm bank blowout at the Tinicum Aqueduct located just south of the Golden Pheasant Inn in Erwinna. See the Park Manager’s Report on page 1 for details. Again much to DCNR’s credit, the situation was declared an emergency and a contractor is working on the repair of the site. Plans are being made to install a system through which the Canal water can be run until the aqueduct can be replaced.

The one, if only, silver lining of the blowout is that the replacement of the Tinicum Aqueduct will be expedited. The existing structure is nothing but a steel I-beam trough that was put in place in 1952. The trough constricts the flow volume, so having a new aqueduct capable of carrying a full volume will be a great benefit to Smithtown, Lumberville, and all points south.

The Delaware Canal as it can and should be.

TWO YEARS. Two times when all seemed well with the Canal. Two failures related to aqueducts that quashed hopes for a fully watered Canal.

On the positive side:

In 2017 the Canal has been fuller for longer periods of time than it was in 2016.
DCNR continues to move quickly to restore water to the Canal.
DCNR is taking more proactive steps to identify problem areas and plan for their repair or replacement.

There’s no doubt about it, the Delaware Canal can be a heartbreaker, but we also know that it fills so many hearts with joy. Together we will continue to advocate and work for the Canal that we all desire. A Canal with patterns that are positive.

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10,452 and Climbing!

Nearly 10,500 people are now our Facebook Friends, and here’s a reason why…

Be our Facebook Friend, so you won’t miss photos like this.

On June 24, Carole Mebus took this photo of the juvenile Bald Eagle that was hatched in a nest on a Delaware River island visible from the Canal towpath.

Throughout this year’s breeding season, Carole has been capturing images of the Bald Eagle parents, the huge nest in a sycamore tree, the parents sitting on the nest, the eaglets popping their heads out, and now a “teenager” showing its independence.

All the photos were posted, day-by-day, on the Friends of the Delaware Canal Facebook page. Carol’s amazing photos of nature along the Canal aren’t to be missed.

Consider becoming a Friends of the Delaware Canal Facebook Friend and watch for a new presentation by Carol next year.

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Marking the Miles

While walking or biking along the 58.9-mile Delaware Canal, it’s natural to wonder “What mile is this?” Fifty-nine answers to that question do exist if you look down and to the side of the towpath.

Pete Sperry and the upper Black Eddy Ready Response Team (UBBERRT), aka Pete Rosswaag, Larry Reinfeld, and Roger Keller were caught in the act of installing Mile Marker 46 by Dave and Audrey Barber from Massachusetts. Dave is the President of the American Canal Society and was there to see how the Delaware Canal was faring.

The current system of granite Belgium blocks cut with the appropriate mile numbers and set in concrete at ground level is the successor to two earlier marking projects. A few older wooden markers followed by plastic “flippers” installed in the mid-1990’s by former Board member John Nay and his grandson Josh can still be found. Both the wood and the plastic, which stood above ground level, could not withstand the wrath of park mowers.

Then along came Pete Sperry, who, after participating in his first Canal Walk, was filled with “where” questions. He became a member of the Friends’ Board of Directors in 2012, and jumped into documenting and setting distances correctly on the towpath. His approach was two-pronged. A more lasting type of mile marker had to be found and installed at accurate intervals, and a detailed chart of mileage and landmarks needed to be developed.

After consulting with the Park Manager, Pete set his course to install the Belgium block system. He inspired his fellow Board members to embark upon a mile marker fund-raising campaign, which was enthusiastically supported and quickly completed. (A list of the donors can be found at www.fodc.org under The Canal/Maps/Mile Markers.). Pete’s next step was to determine the correct locations. Through a painstaking process of using historic maps, a measuring wheel, and his GPS unit, he found that the beginning point of Canal now lies in the Delaware River in Bristol. From that point, he measured and calculated the points going north to the end of Easton.

With locations pinpointed, Pete hand-selected the granite blocks, had the numbers sandblasted by a local gravestone maker, and then drilled and fastened an anchor bar in each stone. Twenty-four energetic volunteers came forth to undertake the digging, concrete mixing, pouring, placing, filling, and finishing needed to place the 59 markers.

As with most Canal stories, there are a few buts. The floods of 2004, 20o5, and 2006 greatly impacted the mile marker project. The severe damage to the Canal banks prevented the installation of some of the markers, and earth had to be replaced around some of the already installed markers. (It is a testament to the quality of the volunteers’ work that mile markers stayed in place even though the banks around them were heavily eroded.) Lastly, quite a few markers did not survive the heavy construction involved with the flood repair work.

Pete and volunteers have been tackling marker repair and replacement projects on a periodic basis ever since the floods. This spring, three construction-damaged Mile Markers were replaced.

Mile Marker 13 in Yardley
Mile Marker 31 in Lumberville
Mile Marker 46 in Upper Black Eddy

The crew will head to Easton to tackle Mile Markers 57 and 58 in the fall. When these two blocks are installed, the Mile Marker system will again be complete from #1 at the Grundy Mill in Bristol to #58.9 at the Forks of the Delaware in Easton.

When you’re out on the towpath, look for the markers and thank all the people who were dedicated to putting them there.

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One Fine Day

Community crews and Canal Tenders joined forces on Saturday, April 8 to give the full length of the Canal its spring cleaning. 340 volunteers turned out for the Friends’ annual Clean-Up Day. Collectively they spent 785 hours clearing trash, debris, and vegetation from the towpath and accumulated 348 full bags of trash and 17 tires.

The Proof is in the Egg

Friends welcomed spring by hiding 15 plastic eggs along the towpath from Easton to Bristol. Inside each egg was a coupon for a Friends’ tee shirt or a Canal Critter finger puppet. By the end of May six of the 15 eggs had been claimed. Nine eggs may still be out there waiting for you to find them. What the egg hunt proved is that Delaware Canal visitors come from near and far. The finders were from Bethlehem, Easton, Lederach, and New Hope in Pennsylvania and from Stockton and Trenton in New Jersey. We’ll have another hunt next April after Canal Clean-Up Day, so keep your eyes peeled!

Just Good Old Fun

More decorated boats, more decorated ducks, and more people! The Delaware Canal Festival held on June 16 at the Lagoon Park in Historic Bristol Borough was the best yet.

Defying a gloomy forecast, the weather on the evening of the Festival was perfect. Youngsters, oldsters, and in-between flocked to Lagoon Park to indulge in the offerings of the food trucks and have fun decorating ducks, playing games, listening to the pop/rock band Finster, and finding out about local organizations. They were also there to see the creativity and ingenuity shown off in the Decorated Boat Parade, the Decorated Duck Contest, and a Cardboard Boat Float. It’s always wonderful to see families and friends working together on their entries.

The Friends thank their fellow event co-sponsors Historic Bristol Borough and Raising the Bar and also Allied Electronics, Driftwood Water Adventures, Grundy Commons, Mignoni Jewelry, Penn Community Bank, Blue Chip Cpopy Center, and numerous individuals for generously supporting the event. It takes an enthusiastic community to make a good event happen, and Btistol Borough is exactly that.

The Board has a Challenge for You

The 11 members of the Friends’ Board of Directors have committed $10o,000 of their personal funds to create a new Legacy Fund Challenge. Each dollar contributed by you and other Friends’ supporters will be matched from the Board’s contribution pool. The goal of the Friends of the Delaware Canal Legacy Fund is to provide a sustainable and reliable source of additional income to support the mission and activities of the Friends into the future. Since the Fund reached it s threshold value of $100,000 in 2011, each year the Board has voted to withdraw a sustainable amount (between $4,000 and $6,000) to supplement our organization’s income from membership, donations, and fundraising.

The Legacy Fund investments have done well over the years. Assuming no significant market retreat, if an additional $20,000 can be contributed, the Legacy Fund balance will reach $200,000. At that level, the Legacy Fund can provide 10% of the Friends’ annual income, which is used to fund our projects, activities, and advocacy work. To help grow the Legacy Fund, you have a number of options:

Outright gift of cash, marketable securities or real estate
Gift from a tax-deferred retirement plan
Bequest in your will
Gift of a life insurance policy

To contribute now, you may go on-line and click on the Legacy Fund Challenge button on the homepage of www.fodc.org or mail your check to Friends of the Delaware Canal, 145 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938.

Why I Love the Canal

By Board Member Judy Franlin

In New Hope, the Canal forms a tranquil green space that contrasts with the bustle of the community’s many restaurants and shops. From my home, I can watch dog walkers, moms, and dads with strollers, school kids, bikers and hikers all enjoying this natural and historic marvel. It reminds me that the Canal belongs first to the people, and we all share in keeping it clean, watered and safe for everyone.

Faces & Places

SAVE THE DATE: October 8

You are cordially invited to join the Friends of the Delaware Canal for our eighth annual signature event – Faces & Places, a Celebration of Art and History along the Delaware Canal.

This year we will head south to Bristol Borough, a prize-winning small town overflowing with history and vitality. Our chauffeured tour will include:

The splendid Margaret R. Grundy Museum and its riverside grounds and garden. This Victorian house renowned for its woodwork and original furnishings, was home to Bristol’s illustrious citizen Joseph R. Grundy and his sister.
Canal Works, an 1880’s era industrial building that was used over the years by a wallpaper printer, a seed company, and a radio equipment manufacturer. It has been masterfully rehabilitated and is now occupied by numerous up and coming businesses. The owner of Canal Works has created a two-floor display of Canal photos and fascinating documents and artifacts from the businesses of old.
Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Distillery, located in the historic Grundy Woolen Mill complex, makes small batch, classic rye whiskey with natural local ingredients. Esquire named it “one of the 10 best distilleries in America outside of Kentucky and Tennesee.”
The Bristol Wharf at the foot of Mill Street, the heart of the Borough. A short walk will lead to Riverfront Park with its new pier, the Canal Basin, the King George II Inn, the shops of Mill Street, and some Bristol stomping going on.
When the tour concludes, join with friends, old and new, at the Centre for the Arts on Mill Street for spirits and an abundant array of hors d’oeuvres and desserts catered by the King George II. Highlighted at the Centre will be vintage and new canal and river-themed art works that will be up for sale, either direct or by auction.

For more information or to make reservations online, visit the Faces & Places event page or call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org

Individual tickets are $150 each; patron tickets are $250.

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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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Get ’em Before They Hatch

Canal Tenders—More Important Than Ever

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The Need Isn’t New

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Canal News – Fall 2020

Construction Countdown Done

Rewatering Underway

Always on the Look Out

Park Manager’s Report

Events that We’re Missing this October

An Untraditional Calendar of Events

POP-UP SHORT WALKS

Locations, Dates, and Times are sent via Constant Contact and posted on fodc.org.

The Cares Act can help you help the Friends

NICE SAVE!

A 9-11 Bench Returns

We’ll be Ready

NEED SOME DIVERSION?

PUMP IN WAITING

SHARING THE TOWPATH TRAIL: MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

WELCOME NEW FRIENDS

Canal News – Summer 2020

Another Camelback Bridge Project Crossed Off the To-Do List

Park Manager’s Report

The Friends heartily thank all the Delaware Canal State Park staff for keeping the towpath and waterway open during these extremely challenging times!

Calendar of Events

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BUTTON, BUTTON

SMILING AT THE LOCKTENDER’S HOUSE

The Construction Countdown 3 – 2 – 1 – Done

Refreshing the Stories

Tending the Canal

SHARE THE TOWPATH TRAIL, PLEASE

Canal News – Spring 2019

Good Riddance

A New One

A Familiar Face

Win – Win

The Difference is Clear

Delaware Canal Clean-Up Day Work Areas

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Spring Returns

Welcome, New Friends

Just in Case

Canal News – Winter 2018

The Canal Gets Signs With Help from Our Friends

The Flowable Fill Solution

Thank You So Much!

See It Before It’s Gone

Park Manager’s Report

Want to be a Canal Tender?

Opportunity Knocks

At the Board Table

Welcome, New Friends

Canal News – Summer 2017

Park Manager’s Report

A Pattern to Break

10,452 and Climbing!

Marking the Miles

One Fine Day

The Proof is in the Egg

Just Good Old Fun

The Board has a Challenge for You

Why I Love the Canal

Faces & Places

Canal News – Spring 2017

Woody’s Camelback Bridge is Restored, Thank You!

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The Construction Countdown
3 – 2 – 1 – Done