The good weather is finally here! So it is time to start rowing (after your dues have been paid)! We have two items to call to your attention.

Shad fishing season! The “fish” flag is up!

Please be aware of the anchored fishermen. One of the best spots to fish for the shad is under the two downstream arches of the free bridge. When the fishermen are anchored that means they have lines in the water. Please leave a 20 foot distance between your boat and the fishermen. This may require you to go through the upstream arch when multiple fishing boats are under the bridge. Also, the fishing nets are out by Lewis Island, please be on the lookout for the nets. They are marked with white floats.

We will need to be aware of these conditions during the shad fishing season which should end in early May.

New river hazard to navigate around

Over the winter a large object has come to rest on the river floor just upriver from the 1,000 meter house. Resting with the object is a fallen tree trunk; therefore this may be there all season. We have put an orange marker in the river where the object is (see pic below). If the water level is above 9.5 feet it will be submerged so the marker should give you the area to avoid. Unfortunately this is the general area we turn to start a 1,000 meter piece.

We need your help now. We are ready to buy and install the dock! We have raised $12,000 to date from our members and friends – but we need your support now to achieve our goal of $20,000 so that we can move ahead.

As you may recall, the Swan Creek Rowing Club and Delaware River Recreation Foundation, in cooperation and consultation with our many local partners, are finally moving forward with our vision for the construction of a shared-used dock and boathouse at our current site in Lambertville. After more then ten years of planning and work – we are ready to begin phase one of the project soon. We intend to purchase and install a rowing dock just downriver of the boat ramp. This important first step will provide safe, efficient, and stable access to the river for launching and recovery. It will also demonstrate to the larger community our serious intent as we move closer to phase II of the project – the construction of our multi-purpose boathouse in 2017.

As you may recall, we surveyed the membership of the Swan Creek Rowing Club about our plans last year – and our membership was overwhelmingly supportive of the project. We made clear that initial funding would need to come from those that would benefit most from the the dock and boathouse – you – our rowers. We are writing now to ask for your financial support for the project. Would you consider making a gift of $250, $500, or even $1,000? Any amount raised above the $20,000 goal will be set aside for Phase II – the Boathouse. We also want to ask if you have access to matching funds from your, or your spouse’s employer. This is a wonderful way to double or even triple your gift.

The total budget for both phases of the project is $300,000 – with $20,000 required for the dock – and the remainder of $280,000 needed for the Boathouse. We have attached renderings of both the dock and boathouse so you can see how exciting and impactful both will be on our future – and our desire to activate the riverfront.

Simply put, we cannot do this without you. To make a tax-deductible gift to the project – please go to PayPal and click on the “send” tab then select “Friends or Family” – and then make your gift to: [email protected]. Or, if you would prefer, you can mail a check to:

The Delaware River Recreation Foundation, P.O. Box 691, Lambertville, NJ 08530

Please feel free to email either of us with any questions or suggestions. Thank you for your generous support and for unwavering commitment to our shared vision.

With warm regards,

Richard Park
President
Swan Creek Rowing Club

Jim Berwick
President
Delaware River Recreation Foundation