Rain turns off water at Newlin Grist Mill

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on May 21, 2014

The monstrous rain on April 30 did more than cause the Brandywine Creek to spill its banks. Torrents of water also blasted through a 15-foot section of rock dam at the Newlin Grist Mill Park.

The dam channels water along the millrace to operate the mill. In addition to stopping mill operations, the lack of water flow along the millrace also dried up the fishponds and turned off the water at the small falls. It’s almost as if a spigot was turned off.

Without water flowing through the millrace, the small water fall at the park looks as if someone has turned off the spigot. — Without water flowing through the millrace, the small waterfall at the park looks as if someone has turned off the spigot.

Tony Shahan, park director, and his staff have been spending time filling sandbags for a temporary fix until contractors can come in and re-establish the rock front of the main dam for the Concord Creek.

Shahan said on May 20 that he hoped to have the temporary repair done by the end of this week, about May 24, and be back in full operation in about six weeks.

“We have 60 days from May 8 to finish under the emergency permit,” he said.

The cost for the project is expected to be about $35,000, Shahan said, but the site only has $25,000 and is seeking donations. For more information on the dam, go here.

Newlin Grist Mill will host Rock the Music Festival on June 14.

Main photo: Sandbags are being installed as a temporary fix for the broken dam along Concord Creek at the Newlin Grist Mill Park.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.