Washington's Crossing re-enactment threatened by low water levels

An annual Christmas tradition is in jeopardy this year, as low water levels on the Delaware River could prevent the George Washington Crossing re-enactment.

FOX 29's Hank Flynn went to Washington's Crossing and found they need to have more water to float their boats.

They won't likely make the crossing this year since the river is too shallow. Hank's Take is sometimes you just need a little more holiday cooperation from Mother Nature.

Joe Capone wants good weather for Christmas. The head of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park likes sunshine for the annual Christmas reenactment of Washington crossing the Delaware.

But until then he needs rain, and plenty of it.

"We need eighteen inches in this area of the river we need 18 inches to float a Durham boat. We prefer 20 to 24. Right now, the average is about nine to ten," Capone explained.

One out of five years there is either not enough water or too much water moving too fast. Langhorne Borough Police Chief John Godzieba plays George Washington in the annual spectacle.

In 1776 what would General Washington have done?

"If the river's low enough back then, it's a life and death situation they're probably going to wade across the river or at least find something to get them across," Godzieba said.

But this is simply a reenactment with a mission is to recreate history, safely for thousands.

"It's the pinnacle of our year at Washington Crossing Historic Park and you want to make sure that when you have ten thousand people there to see this to see the crossing that they're not disappointed," Godzieba added.

Wah Louie runs the Patriots Crossing Tavern where reenactors often gather for Christmas libation after the Crossing. He's expecting the same victorious General Washington he sees every year.

"He'll be here, he'll be walking across the river across the bridge rather but he'll be here," Louie said.

Washington's troops have crossed using the bridge before, Godzieba says, he won't do it again calling it a bad look from a reenactor's standpoint.

He adds that all the activities leading up to the crossing are still on and if you do go to the crossing on Christmas for history you'll be in for a treat high water or not.