The Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has fallen below 15 feet, leading to the reopening of the park. However, the National Park Service (NPS) continues to enforce its High Water Advisory, requiring all individuals in the river to wear a life jacket. The advisory follows the weekend rains from the remnants of Hurricane Debby, which caused the river to swell and led to local floods throughout the Poconos area.
The park had been closed until the river dropped below the 15-foot mark, which occurred early Sunday morning. Despite the drop in water levels, park managers are still urging caution due to the potential for hazardous conditions.
According to the NPS, "We are expecting high winds, and heavy rainfall, on top of a significant snowfall from earlier this week. While we are not expecting any major river flooding during this storm- though that could change- we do expect to see flooding from creeks and streams and from mountainside runoff, and in low-lying areas that are usually susceptible to flooding.”
The NPS also warned of the potential for fallen trees and utility lines, resulting in power outages. The park’s maintenance division and park rangers are on duty throughout the storm to respond to issues as needed.
The Delaware River and all access points had been closed due to the hazardous conditions. The river had been running at just under 8 feet at the Montague, NJ gauge for several days, 2 to 3 feet higher than normal, and was hovering around the 10-foot mark before the recent drop.