The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) and Delaware Canal 21 (DC 21) have announced that a $225,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation has been awarded to the D&L to conduct a Delaware Canal Vision Study in partnership with DC 21 and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR).

The grant jumpstarts a brand new stakeholder process that will engage a wide range of advocates and residents in a highly collaborative manner.

The outcome is intended to identify strategies to reverse the physical deterioration of the Delaware Canal in order to ensure the Delaware Canal's long-term improved maintenance and financial sustainability.

The project concept was initiated by Delaware Canal 21 for the 60-mile long National Historic Landmark located within Delaware Canal State Park in Bucks and Northampton counties. The results of the study will be the first step in developing a comprehensive long-range plan for the canal.

The William Penn Foundation's support begins a new partnership path toward achieving a reliably-watered canal for its entire length.

"We are pleased to lend our proven track record for successfully completing projects with supporting metrics to this initiative," said D&L President, Elissa Garofalo.

Other key participants include the Delaware Canal State Park Advisory Committee and the Friends of the Delaware Canal.

The study will result in a report that describes what the community envisions for a sustainable Canal in the 21st century, and will address state park budget limitations, alternative funding partners and ideas to pay for improvements.

Beyond the visioning process, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine the specific costs of implementing priority projects identified and recommend how to finance projects deemed viable.

Delaware Canal 21 is one of the partners to take the lead in developing an emergency back-up watering system to provide water to the Canal when the normal flow of water is interrupted by flood damage, canal or road maintenance, or other reason. The system will help avoid long stretches of the Canal remaining dry for months or years while upstream repairs are being made. The first pump is already installed and operational at Durham.

The D&L, established in 1988 by Congress, works to preserve the historic pathway that carried coal and iron from Wilkes-Barre to Philadelphia. The D&L Trail, which includes the Delaware Canal Towpath, connects people to nature, culture, communities, recreation and our heritage.