Castle Secures Key Designation for His Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Recreation Trail; Recreation Authorized at the Army Corps Property

Press Release

Castle Secures Key Designation for His Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Recreation Trail; Recreation Authorized at the Army Corps Property

Delaware Congressman Mike Castle secured a major victory in his effort to create a multi-use trail along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal with the inclusion of critical language in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which passed the House of Representatives today. Specifically, this legislation expands the current authorization of the C&D Canal as a navigation channel to also include "recreation" as a project purpose. With this authorization, the project will be able to move forward with the design and construction of a multi-purpose trail that can be used for such activities as walking and biking, accommodations like parking areas and restrooms, while still maintaining ongoing activities like dog training, hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, and increasing security. The authorization also provides the opportunity to compete for federal funds more readily.

"Today is an exciting day for all the supporters of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Recreation Trail and families in the area who will benefit from such a trail, as we move a step closer to securing additional funding at the federal level for the project. Creating a multi-purpose recreation trail on the existing service road would ensure a safer area for the residents of Delaware City (one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Delaware), Chesapeake City, and everywhere in between, to continue to enjoy the Canal. We have a piece of federally protected land of approximately 9,000 acres that can easily provide additional recreational opportunities while still providing ongoing activities like dog training, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and horseback riding. I look forward to having the authorization signed into law, so we can complete the design and construction of this trail," Castle said.

With over $3 million already dedicated to completing the concept plans, design, and construction of the trail from state and local entities in Delaware, including the State of Delaware, Delaware Department of Transportation, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, New Castle County, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources, completing the construction of the recreation trail along the Canal remains a top priority. In April 2006, Castle joined Lt. Col. Gwen Baker of the Army Corps, Secretary John Hughes, Secretary Carolann Wicks, County Executive Chris Coons, and Delaware Greenways to unveil the C & D Canal Trail Concept Plan, which provides a road map for creating a multi-purpose trail along the Canal's service road.

A WRDA bill, which authorizes all Army Corps projects across the country is typically completed every two years, however a WRDA bill has not been completed since 2000.

Additional Delaware projects that are authorized in the House WRDA legislation are:

* Oyster Restoration in Delaware Bay
* Debris removal from the Delaware River (PA, NJ, and DE)
* Feasibility of Christina River and Shellpot Creek Flood Mitigation Project
* Delaware River Basin: Authorization to fulfill the equitable funding requirements of their respective interstate compacts.
* Delmarva Conservation Corridor: Technical Assistance and Coordination and integration of water resources projects in MD and DE on Delmarva Peninsula

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