Update on the Fry’s Run aka Kleinhans Aqueduct Situation
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
From Josh Swartley, Delaware Canal State Park Manager —-
On Saturday, August 11, 2018 Williams Township (Northampton County) experience torrential downpours and flash flooding. As a result of this flooding Fry’s Run overflowed its banks, sending a wall of water into Kleinhans Aqueduct. The flash flooding damage the aqueduct and the temporary bypass that carries water along the canal. The aqueduct wall on the west side was completely blown off and washed down the canal. The temporary bypass, that conveys water through the canal, was washed away. Currently, water is being diverted out of the canal at Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area (TRRA) until repairs can be made to the aqueduct. The area between TRRA and Durham will have no flow until repairs can be made. The Durham pump has been turned on, so the area south of Durham will have a minimal amount of water on a short term, temporary basis. Over the next several days, we will be working on installing another temporary bypass over the aqueduct and hope to have water flowing through the area by the end of next week.
On Saturday, August 11th, it RAINED in the upper stretches of the Canal causing local flooding. Fry’s Run near Raubsville rose to a level higher than the canal aqueduct, and the tremendous force of the water against the temporary pipes, which were carrying the Canal’s water over the Run, were ripped out of place – as well as stone walls and some River bank.
