A major obstacle in the completion of the 165-mile Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) Trail is a step closer to being eliminated, thanks to a recent award that will close gaps in the trail in Lower Bucks County and promote a regional network of multi-use trails within the Greater Philadelphia area.

A $471,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s (DVRPC) Regional Trails Program – funded through the William Penn Foundation – paired with $1.69 million of Federal Transportation Enhancement funds secured by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, will be used to connect two segments of the D&L Trail in Tullytown Borough, Bucks County, that are currently disconnected by U.S. Route 13. The project is being administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

The disconnected sections of the D&L Trail will be brought together by a tunnel constructed underneath the four-lane Route 13.  The trail through the tunnel will be 12 feet wide and composed of concrete. Ramps will lead down to the tunnel from the two existing trail sections.  The trail will follow the old towpath of the Delaware Canal, which was filled in at Route 13 during the 1950s.

“It’s very rewarding to be a part of the partnership that is working to complete key links in the region’s trail network,” said Allen Sachse, Executive Director and President of the Heritage Corridor.  “The Route 13 crossing brings the Delaware Canal Towpath portion of the D&L Trail one big step closer to completion.”

The D&L Trail, which will run from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol when complete, has been identified as a “Regional Trunk Trail” connecting Lower Bucks County to Philadelphia and extending north into the Lehigh and Wyoming valleys.  DCNR has worked closely with the Heritage Corridor for nearly a decade to secure funding for the Route 13 project.  Once completed, the tunnel underneath Route 13 will allow trail users in Lower Bucks County greater access to Delaware Canal State Park, which parallels the Delaware River through Bucks and Northampton counties and ends in Easton.

The Route 13 project is in its final design stage and is expected to go out to bid in late 2011. Construction is expected to begin in late 2012.

Written by Silas Chamberlin

On Wednesday, Mayor Ed Pawlowski will announce that Allentown is an official Bird Town.  The designation comes from the Audubon Society, which oversees the partnership program.  Bird Town status recognizes the work of municipalities to provide native plant habitat for resident and migratory birds, improve air and water quality, and promote education and public outreach regarding birds.  Until now, the designation was reserved for small, rural communities.  Allentown–the state’s third largest city–will become the first urban community to receive the honor.

Designation is only the first step.  Friends of Allentown Parks, with the support of PPL, will work closely with the city’s parks department to plan ways to further enhance the city’s environment.

The announcement will take place at a reception held on Wednesday, July 13 from 6-8 PM at the Baum School of Art’s David E. Rodale Gallery.  The gallery currently features two exhibits related to birds and other wildlife.  Rod Arbogast and Tom Ahern, two well-known regional artists, will display their painting and woodcarving as part of A Study of Animals and Birds.  The popular exhibit Conrad Roland: The Pennsylvania Painter of Birds will also be on display during the reception.

Please consider attending the reception and help Allentown celebrate this significant honor.

On Saturday, March 5 join the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, and WDIY to learn more about the potential risks of natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.  Enjoy selections from the film Gasland and presentations by sportsmen, scientists, and conservationists.  The event will be held at Bethlehem’s Ice House, located on Sand Island.  Presentations begin at 2:00 pm.  Click here for a flyer, with more details.

The D&L Trail Patrol is holding its first meeting and training that morning in Easton.  So, why not make a day of it by heading to this event in the afternoon.

Written by Silas Chamberlin

DCNR annually names a “River of the Year.”  In 2007, the Lehigh River took top honors.  This year, the Delaware River tops the list.  Check out the DCNR press release below:

The people have spoken: the Delaware River is Pennsylvania’s River of the Year for 2011.

Chosen for the first time through a public vote, the Delaware bested five other candidates in an online contest that saw more than 10,000 ballots cast from across the state. The Delaware received 2,520 votes.

“The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and is steeped in history, diverse in resources, and is vital to protect,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley said. “Its waters serve the needs of more than 15 million people from four different states, including more than 5 million Pennsylvanians. It boasts the largest freshwater port in the world, as well as threatened and endangered species, and a thriving tourism industry.

“A goal of the River of the Year designation is to raise awareness of the river and its conservation needs. The public voting format used to nominate and select the River of the Year for the first time this year certainly generated local enthusiasm for conservation and recognition of the importance of our waterways,” Quigley said.

The five other finalists were: Clarion River, Conewango Creek, Kiskiminetas River, Pine Creek, and the Stonycreek River.

DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administer the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations.

“Although we could only have one winner, each of the waterways that were nominated is special and important in its own way,” Quigley said. “Congratulations to all the local groups who nominated their rivers, and rallied support for them not only for this vote, but through all of their activities and advocacy.”

POWR helps train and organize local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.

“The Delaware River is simply an incredible resource — not just for Pennsylvania, but for the nation as a whole,” said POWR Executive Director Jon Meade. “To honor it with the River of the Year award reflects the importance of preservation to those who live near it and experience it every day.”

There are a number of organizations that work in partnership to support conservation and recreation activities along the Delaware, including: the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC); Delaware Canal State Park; National Canoe Safety Patrol; National Park Service; and Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition.

These groups will organize several events throughout the year, including the 17^th annual Sojourn paddling trip, a symposium, photo contest and river legacy fundraiser. The eight-day sojourn will include educational programs, and give paddlers a chance to experience the Delaware River to encourage greater understanding of the river and stewardship needs.

“On behalf of the steering committee and all our partners, I would like to thank everyone who voted for the Delaware. Having the Delaware be Pennsylvania’s 2011 River of the Year is truly an honor, especially since it is the people’s choice and with this the DRBC’s 50^th Anniversary year,” said Kate O’Hara, co-coordinator of the Delaware Sojourn Steering Committee. “This designation will not only showcase the Delaware and all it has to offer, but also highlight the numerous organizations, agencies, and individual volunteers who work together to protect and enhance the river for future generations.”

Pennsylvania’s River of the Year has been presented annually since 1983.

To learn more about DCNR’s Rivers Program, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers.

Written By Scott Everett

We received word just before Christmas that the D&L has been awarded very competitive Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA) funding in the amount of $488,750 for trail construction in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

An artistic rendering of the proposed North Catty trailhead

The funds will be used to build the section of the D&L Trail from the Hokendauqua Creek pedestrian bridge in Northampton to the North Catasauqua trailhead. This will dovetail with the existing funding we have for the trail from North Catasauqua to Allentown—portions that are currently being designed.

This is historically significant section of the Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River. The canal traveled south from Northampton, bringing boats to a slack part of the river. The iron industry thrived for a time on both sides of the river with the Crane Iron Works in Catty and the Thomas Iron Works in Hokey. In addition, several railroad spurs were located in the area.

An unimproved stretch of the North Catty trail section

The main focus of this project will be to handle infrastructure issues, stabilize the trail, and hopefully surface the entire length.

Stay tuned for more details.