Delaware Riverwatch: Fall 2026

Ben Franklin Bridge Turns 100

Tens of thousands of bridge fans turned out in July to walk across the historic Benjamin Franklin Bridge across the Delaware from Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey, part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the bridge. The event closed the bridge to vehicle traffic and involved a festival and light show. Originally called simply the "Delaware Bridge", it opened in July 1926 as the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was renamed for Ben Franklin in 1955 and today carries nearly 100,000 vehicles on an average day. Details

Lenape River Trip

Every four years, members of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, with an open invitation for anyone who feels called to join in, paddle down the length of the Delaware River on the Rising Nation River Journey. The journey in August 2026 included stops along the way for Treaty Signing events, in which organizations and individuals signed a Treaty of Renewed Friendship that aimed to protect the environment and spread indigenous awareness. More information.

Environmental and Legal Update

Fracking Ban Maintained: A major Republican-led congressional challenge to lift the Delaware River Basin's hydraulic fracturing ban was defeated. An amendment intended to strip the DRBC of its authority to regulate fracking was withdrawn before a committee vote, preserving the protective status quo for the watershed. Wetlands Protection Act: Safeguarding the basin's surrounding ecosystem, Delaware enacted the historic Wetlands Stewardship Act, establishing state-level protections for freshwater wetlands for the first time in nearly four decades. More information.

Skinners Falls Bridge Project Update

Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation is trying to decide the future of the Skinners Falls Bridge, but the process is taking a long time. The bridge was closed to traffic in 2019 and, in 2024, a net was placed under the bridge to protect the Delaware River flowing underneath. Safety concerns delayed removal of the bridge structure in 2025. While the National Park Service is urging for the replacement of the bridge, the Pennsylvainia Department of Transportation has noted it does not have the funding to build a new bridge, estimnated at $13 million. The nearest bridges to Skinners Falls are the Cochecton-Damascus Bridge, which is approximately three miles upstream, and the Narrowsburg-Darbytown Bridge, which is approximately six miles downstream. More information.