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We maintain more than 550 miles of navigable waterways, including the 40-foot-deep Delaware River federal navigation channel from Philadelphia to the Atlantic. The District operates and maintains the  Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Other navigation projects include the Schuylkill River, Wilmington Harbor, the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and many coastal harbors and inlets. We also own and operate the Dredge McFarland.

Projects

Delaware River Deepening 

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal 

Storm Damage Reduction

We are especially noted for our key role in reducing damages to the New Jersey and Delaware Coasts. We've completed storm damage reduction projects at Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Brigantine, Atlantic City and Ventnor, Ocean City, Avalon and Stone Harbor, Cape May and Cape May Point in New Jersey, and at Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches, Bethany and South Bethany and Fenwick Island in Delaware.

Projects

Absecon Island Storm Damage Reduction

Long Beach Island Storm Damage Reduction

 

Flood Risk Management

The District also protects communities in the Delaware River Basin from flooding while providing water supply and enhancing both water quality and recreation.  We operate 5 earthfill dams in eastern Pennsylvania: Blue Marsh Lake near Reading; Beltzville Lake and Francis E. Walter Dam in the Poconos; and Prompton Lake and Jadwin Dam in the northeastern corner of the state.

Projects

Blue Marsh Lake

F.E. Walter Dam 

Feasibility Studies

Our Planning Division partners with project sponsors to conduct feasibility studies. These studies involve comprehensive economic, environmental and engineering analyses. Current investigations include flood risk management studies along the Delaware River basin, coastal and regional sediment management studies in New Jersey; and ecosystem restoration studies in Pennslyvania.

Projects

Delaware River Basin   Comprehensive Study

Wissahickon Creek 

Takoony Creek

Continuing Authorities

The Continuing Authorities Program allows us to respond to a variety of water resource problems without the need to obtain specific congressional authorization for each project. This decreases the amount of time required to budget, develop, and approve a potential project for construction. Project areas include ecosystem restoration, streambank protection, environmental improvements, flood control and navigation.

Projects

Little Mill Creek

Lower Assunpink Creek

SE PA Environmental Improvement 

Southampton Creek   

Civil Works

The Philadelphia District maintains more than 550 miles of navigable waterways in the Delaware River Valley. We own and maintain the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and the 6 six bridges that cross it. The District nourishes beaches in New Jersey and Delaware to reduce storm damages. We operate 5 dams in eastern Pennslyvania that have prevented millions of dollars in floods damages. We also execute a number of smaller projects under the Continuing Authorities Program.  

Links

Important Numbers

Operations 215-656-6722

Programs and Project Management 215-656-6511

Planning 215-656-6541

C&D Canal 410-885-5622

Blue Marsh Lake 610-376-6337

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