Volunteers boost canal restoration! Planting, dam work, and channel prep done despite freezing conditions.
Tom Fulda manages the restoration. He said bonfires kept them warm. The weather was very cold, he added, and there was a freezing wind blowing, too.
They reached an important goal, even though the freezing weather last month prevented this. They raised the Phase 1A dam’s level. This will reduce storm surge damage. They also connected pipes between phases 1A and 1B, as the pipes pass the farm crossing area.
Phase 1B is now totally full. It collected rain water since July. Now, half the canal is filled with water, positioned between two different bridges.
They also worked on the canal channel to get it ready for lining. Lining will happen next month if the weather allows, as they have already finished 100 meters.
The channel gets wider on a curve there, and the bank is almost the right water level height. They need more channel work in that spot, and they might need to adjust things through testing.
Besides the channel work, they support everything well. They cut pegs from angle iron pieces, which will hold towpath boards in place. They also cut lining for the next work day.