The C&O Canal Trust has received a transformational $1 million innovation grant from the
National Park Foundation (NPF) to support a water level monitoring and recreational safety
system for the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The initiative will strengthen flood
preparedness, improve visitor safety, support recreational access, and help protect the park’s
historic infrastructure.
Stretching 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland, the
C&O Canal welcomes nearly 5 million visitors annually. Its historic canal, towpath, and more
than 1,200 historic structures face ongoing flood risks from the Potomac River, heavy rainfall,
and surrounding tributaries and stormwater systems. Many of the canal’s water control
features and supporting masonry culverts date to the 19th century and remain essential to
managing water levels today.
Photo Credit: NPS