What’s Next?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All in all, things are getting better and better.

***

Three Canal ‘C’s to Cure Cabin Fever

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

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

Want to be a Canal Tender?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THANK YOU ALL!

***

Close, but not Quite Covered

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

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

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

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

There are still some sections that need to be adopted.

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

Other sections that haven’t been adopted are:

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

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

***

Our Business and Institutional Members

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

Founder

Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association

Benefactor

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

Patron

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

Member

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

***

Canal Tenders at Work

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

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

***

Help Wanted

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

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

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

Contact Us

Help the Canal

Get Email Updates

Menu