FREE TO ROAM

Since Tropical Storm Ida hit Pennsylvania in September 2021, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has been working to replace key infrastructure damaged by the deluge. Specifically, the Lumberville Aqueduct was so undermined by the flooding and debris that it had to be removed. In the case of the High Falls Creek sub-canal culvert pipe, the storm pretty much took care of the removal, taking the pipe and towpath out toward the river, leaving behind a large gaping expanse.

Over the past five years, DCNR, along with other agencies, has re-engineered these structures to withstand the pressures of increasingly violent storms. And today, we are happy to report that both projects have been completed, opening the towpath to travelers once more.
So, if you like to roam the Delaware River Valley, the Delaware Canal towpath is a perfect way to enjoy a summer stroll or bike ride.
From Bristol to Easton, with one break in the towpath in New Hope, the path is clear.

Visitors can now enjoy a summer stroll from Lumberville to Point Pleasant with a stop for lunch at one of the many dining spots along the way. Or take a leisurely bike ride from inicum Park to Riegelsville. Stop in at the Homestead General Store for a cup of their fresh-roasted coffee before passing over the new High Falls section of the towpath.

With these repairs finally completed, you can take advantage of more loop trails. The loop between Uhlerstown, PA and Frenchtown, NJ takes you down to Center Bridge, PA and into Stockton, NJ for the return ride, an 18.9-mile round trip. Shorter loops include the round-trip between Lumberville and Bulls Island (a 7.3-mile loop through Center Bridge, PA, to Stockton, NJ) and the loop between Center Bridge and Stockton (a 7.1-mile loop through New Hope, PA, and Lambertville, NJ).

Further south, you can enjoy a loop ride between Washington Crossing, PA, ending in Washington Crossing, NJ. And the last of the loops will take you from Lower Makefield down to Morrisville and back to Pennsylvania on the Jersey side through Trenton.

With summer now upon us, it is a perfect time to enjoy the vistas, wildlife, and quaint small-town charm found all along the Delaware Canal
and Towpath.

That’s a wrap: Clean-ups on land and water

Canal Clean-up Day 2026 was one of our most productive events so far. Scout troops, business teams, and many of our reliable volunteers turned out for a great day of canal and towpath clean-up.

Good weather always makes a difference. Even though the morning started off chilly, we warmed up quickly once we got to work. This year, more than 100 volunteers collected over 200 bags of trash and large debris from the towpath and canal. We also had boats in the water—four dedicated paddlers in kayaks and canoes picked up trash that we couldn’t reach from land.

We truly appreciate everyone’s hard work and willingness to help. The communities along the canal are grateful for these efforts, and we
encourage everyone to pick up any trash you see during your towpath walks.

Biodiversity Study on the Delaware Canal

The Friends have long known the perils of allowing invasive plant species to overtake the canal. As we look forward to a fully watered canal, it is more important than ever to understand how best to control these plants without harming the environment.
So, the Friends, along with the help of a local non-profit, DC21, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), has hired the firm AKRF/Stroud Water Resource Center to conduct a biodiversity assessment of the Delaware Canal. The first phase of this research began this spring (shown above) and will be followed by additional research in the summer and fall of 2026.
Stroud has a staff of aquatic biologists and ecologists who are collecting information on the species that live in the canal, with an emphasis on fish, amphibians, insects and plants. Wearing hip waders and carrying sampling supplies, they have received the attention of towpath users and prompted some questions. To address any concerns, Stroud produced an informational leaflet with a few FAQs about this important scientific assessment.

Here are the highlights:
⚫ Stroud is measuring the aquatic plants and animals living in the canal to understand the biodiversity and habitat conditions.
⚫ This information is important as it provides a baseline for conservation protocols and future monitoring, and it will help DCNR make informed decisions about the best way to manage vegetation in the canal.
⚫ The study will be completed in the fall of 2026, with a complete report presented by Winter of 2027.
Brett Webber, Friends of the Delaware Canal board president, has fully endorsed this study: “This project is the pilot for the larger comprehensive vegetation removal project which is planned initially in the section between Centre Bridge and Lock 11. However, the protocols established with this study will inform all future vegetation removal projects along the length of the Delaware Canal.”
Biodiversity Study on the Delaware Canal

AMENITIES FOR TOWPATH TRAVELERS

With access to recently opened loop trails and a summer of exploration ahead, now is a good time to review where to find visitor amenities while hiking and biking.

Trailside bike repair stations are available along the route and are equipped with hex keys, wrenches, tire levers and a universal air pump for quick fixes. Find them in Easton at the confluence (or the northern start of the canal towpath), as well as at Washington Crossing Park near the Thompson-Neely Homestead, the Washington Crossing Park Visitors Center and the Scudder Falls 1799 House at the trailhead.

These locations, with the exception of Easton, offer bathrooms too. For a full list of rest amenities, consult the Delaware Canal Landmark and Mileage Chart. Facilities from north to south are: Wy-Hit-Tuk Park near Easton, Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area in Williams Township, Lodi Hill Park Office in Upper Black Eddy, Virginia Forrest Recreation Area in Solebury Township, Washington Crossing Park (north and south), Black Rock Road in Lower Makefield, Calhoun Street Bridge in Morrisville and Riverfront Park in Bristol.
Electric vehicle charging stations are at Virginia Forrest Recreation Area and Washington Crossing Park Visitors Center.

To plan your towpath trip, use our Delaware Canal Landmark and Mileage Chart, which highlights key rest stops, access points and amenities along the trail. It is under the Visit/The Towpath Trail tab on our website. Scroll to Landmarks and Mileage and download your copy.

Saving Summer

WE ALL LOVE TO SEE WATER IN THE CANAL, and some places have been experiencing a drought for several years. The 2021 Tropical Storm Ida and subsequent catastrophic tropical cyclones caused devastating flooding in Pennsylvania. It was recorded as one of the most destructive storms to hit our area, and these events were devastating to the canal.
Now for the good news. The infrastructure damaged by these storms has been replaced or repaired, and water is now flowing from Easton, heading south. The introduction of water will be staged so the park can monitor canal conditions and water flow, and address any new problems that may arise.

Meanwhile, in April, a pump that feeds water into the canal in New Hope was damaged and inoperable. Unfortunately, the Delaware River levels were too high to safely access the pump. The lack of flowing water quickly took a toll, leaving the canal bed cracked and dry. The Friends of the Delaware Canal working alongside the state and the pump’s maintenance team identified a solution, and got a temporary pump installed at Centre Bridge, while the original is being repaired.

FODC absorbed the cost of the rental, placement, and opera-tion of the temporary pump to protect the canal. Repairing the original pump now carries a significant cost (upwards of $25K), and keeping it running, the electricity, the upkeep is an expense that never really ends.
The Friends have a lot of experience with this pump. Years ago, it was put in place to ensure the mule-drawn canal boat rides could operate without relying on water flowing from the north. Once the boat rides ended, the local residents decided to fund the pump’s operation to keep water in New Hope. The Friends were asked to facilitate fund collection and distribute funds as needed. The pump costs approximately $2,000 per month to operate, so it is an expense that requires a substantial financial commitment.

Last year, when the pump needed repairs, the Friends stepped in and paid to have a temporary pump installed, and DCNR paid for the repairs. In addition, our local State Representative, Tim Brennan, helped secure a grant to cover the annual electric bill. However, this most recent pump failure creates an unexpected financial burden that will need to be funded through donations and possible governmental assistance.

For now, we are all happy that water is flowing in New Hope. However, keeping the pump operational will cost money, and that money must come from a reliable, consistent source. To make a contribution to the New Hope for the Canal fund, scan this QR code.

Raptor on the Rise

WHEN EAGLES SOAR
The Delaware River Valley has seen a resurgence in the number of eagle nests along the riverbanks. These majestic raptors were once a rare sighting. Today, you are likely to spot an eagle along the canal towpath. From Tullytown to Easton and towns in between, eagles have established nests along the Delaware River and canal.

Banning Pesticides
After WWII, the pesticide DDT was widely used to control mosquitoes and other insects. It leached into waterways, entering the food chain. Contaminated fish eaten by Bald Eagles and other birds, such as Ospreys, caused thinning of eggshells, which could not protect the embryo inside.

The eagle population collapsed along with other impacted bird species. By 1963, only 417 Bald Eagles remained in the lower 48 states. California condors were extinct in the wild by 1987. Other birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons and hawks, along with numerous songbirds and shorebirds, began to vanish from the landscape.

No one understood or believed the extent of DDT’s environmental impact until Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962. Her book spurred a new awareness and an environmental movement that led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and a ban on DDT in the United States.

An Environmental Success Story
Today, the number of eagle nests in Pennsylvania has grown from three nesting pairs in 1980 to more than 300 (and some esti-mate it could be as high as 500) across the state, with active nests in all 67 counties. Improved environmental conditions, along with a reintroduction program that ran from 1983 to 1989, have had a major impact on the eagle population. Better water quality, growth in riparian forested areas, and of course, controls on pesticides and insecticides, have all led to a healthy Bald Eagle population.

However, we must be vigilant. Birds of prey are still threatened by habitat loss, disruption from invasive species, insecticides, lead poisoning and other forms of pollution. While no longer on the endangered species list, Bald Eagles are still a protected species.

Location, Location, Location
Eagles hunt for food and are primarily fish eaters. While they will eat other animals, including carrion, fish is their favorite. So, it makes sense you would find their nests close to their food source. The Delaware River Valley is also populated with towering sycamore trees. These trees, with massive out-ward branching limbs, provide a perfect location as a nest site. Eagle nests can weigh more than one ton and are 5 to 6 feet in diameter. Raptors need a solid foundation, and sycamore trees provide a sturdy base camp.

OSPREYS RETURN

Ospreys faced a similar fate as the Bald Eagle in the 1950s and 60s. And, like the Bald Eagle, their numbers have grown over the past several decades. Pennsylvania has over 150-200 active Osprey nests, a significant rise from only one known nest in 1986. The 1986 active nest was a result of the reintroduction of birds beginning in 1980. Prior to the reintroduction program, the Osprey was considered extirpated from the state.

Spying Ospreys
Ospreys are not as common a sight as Bald Eagles, which tend to reside in our river valley year-round. The Osprey is a seasonal visi-tor. Ospreys, or fish hawks, eat only fish, so they need open water to survive. Our winters are not suitable, often creating icy rivers, lakes and ponds. These majestic birds are often seen nesting in high-voltage transmission towers and reservoirs near waterways, demonstrating the amazing adaptability of some species not only to coexist with man-made structures but also to use them to their advantage.

A Sleek Flyer
Ospreys are smaller in size and weight than a Bald Eagle, but they are larger than our largest resident hawk, the Red-tailed Hawk. Ospreys can grow to two feet in length and have a wingspan of five to six feet. As fish-hunters, they are the only raptor equipped with a reversible outer toe, which can be rotated to grab the fish between the front talons. And they have spicules or barbed foot-pads to keep fish from slipping away.

Show love and respect for these amazing birds…from a distance

We are so lucky to have many visible Osprey and Bald Eagle nests in the Delaware River Valley. And while they are amazing to watch, we must be careful not to disturb their habitat—particularly during the breeding season.

When you are in the vicinity of an active nest, make sure you keep your distance. Eagles and Ospreys can abandon nests if they feel threatened, leaving eggs or chicks open to predation and the elements. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state agen-cies generally recommend keeping a minimum of 330 to 660 feet (100 to 200 meters) from a nest.

Some nests are easily seen from the towpath before the trees have leafed out, while others require binoculars, a spotting scope or a telescopic lens. Ospreys’ nests can be easier to locate as they have a fondness for cellular or power transmission towers.

If you do find a nest, you can record your sightings with the PA Fish and Wildlife Commission. This agency tracks the continued success and issues with our beautiful raptors. You can report osprey sightings to osprey@pa.gov or by filling out the survey form found at https://shorturl.at/81aIm to document the location and activity at the nest then email the completed form to osprey@ pa.gov. You can report Bald Eagle nests to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) using their online form at https://pgcforms. pa.gov/BaldEagleNestSurvey.

All bird observations can also be submitted to Pennsylvania eBird. This tool not only helps you track your findings but provides scientists with vital information about the species and the health of the populations in our area. See the Pennsylvania Audubon website for more information.

So, keep spying and tracking these majestic birds as you walk along the towpath. They are more abundant than ever before, and we must be diligent in protecting their health and habitat for future generations.