The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and Delaware Canal 21 have been awarded a second round of grants totaling $180,000 from the William Penn Foundation.
The grant will fund six tasks along the entire length of the canal that runs from Bristol Borough to Easton in Northampton County and further support the missions of both organizations.
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One of the projects funded by the grant will deal with working with Bristol Borough regarding improvements and rehabilitation of the canal’s first mile will also be in the works. That project will focus on eliminating obstacles to the trail at the canal’s most southern reach, clearly marking where the canal existed before the first mile was filled in, and improving pedestrian/bicycle safety where the trail crosses borough streets. It will lay the groundwork for a potential future effort to “daylight” the Canal in this area.
Another project will be a canal hydraulics study to focus on Morrisville flooding issues. This study of water flow in the canal, along with precise measurements of the elevations, locations, and capacities of overflow structures and other water management structures, will enable officials to deal more quickly and efficiently with flooding.
The funds will also investigate new technology, procedures and materials for sinkhole detection and repair. Sinkholes, which tend to develop when the canal is dry for extended periods of time, have been a perplexing problem over the years for the canal maintenance staff.
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In addition, the first-ever water quality study of the canal and its stealth watershed will also be designed, since no previous water quality studies have ever been conducted. A feasibility study regarding options for canal and towpath access from Downtown Easton, as well as Scudders Falls will also be planned.
Officials have noted that more than $1 million in grant support has been secured in support of the canal over the past three years.
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“Considering our operating budget is only around $125,000 a year, it’s easy to see that we leverage our donor’s investments by a factor of at least four,” said Douglas Dolan, executive director of Delaware Canal 21.
In 2017, the Delaware Canal Vision Study noted an opportunity in Bristol Borough to improve the canal park and place contextual additions in areas where the canal was filled in. The study also focused on future improvements that could upgrade the state park along its 60-mile route.
