Around Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park

Today was beautiful, and warmer than the last few days.  Having most of the day available, we decided to hike around Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park - a 6.5 mile walk.

Peace Valley Park is a 1,500 acre park located near Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The park surrounds Lake Galena, a 2-mile long by .5 mile wide manmade lake:

Lake Galena was created by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek in the 1970's, in order to decrease flooding downstream and to provide recreation for local residents. It was named, "Lake Galena" because of lead ore, which is found in the area. A local area was once referred to as "New Galena" because of the lead mines that were there. The waters of Lake Galena now cover the largest mine pit and other, smaller mine sites in the valley.

Lead was discovered in the area in 1860 when two people digging a post hole came across a large rock. When split open it glistened and they brought it to a blacksmith who smelted it and determined that it was indeed lead. Rich veins of lead and zinc ore, and some gold, silver, uranium and copper were mined periodically along the North Branch of Neshaminy Creek in this area from 1860 into the 1930's.

Legend has it that long before mining operations began in 1860, Lenni Lenape Indians fashioned implements from lead found in local creek beds.  One such creek - "Bullet Mold Creek" - may have been where lead ore was smelted to make musket balls for Washington's army during its encampment at Valley Forge.  An old frame building known as the "cannon ball factory" lends support for another legend that cannon balls for the Union Army were made here during the Civil War.  The high cost of pumping water from the largest mine pit contributed to its closing in the 1830's.

While one can imagine that lead pollution is an issue affecting the lake, an environmental study actually found much higher pollution and related issues due to fertilizers in the runoff from local farms.

Most of the trails are paved and multi-use.  However, some trails are primitive, and, due to low lake waters at this time of year, it was also possible to walk along the flat shoreline.  We did a little of each.  In one secluded section, we ran across this makeshift camping shelter:

We had hardly started our hike when thousands upon thousands of geese approached overhead from the north in great flocks that didn't so much resemble flying V's or wedges, but great swarms.  As the geese approached the lake, some smaller wedges broke off to the east, other wedges broke west, and still others approached and landed on the lake.  Here, several hundred geese are parking overnight on the lake, raising quite a ruckus:

The County has installed many birdhouses throughout the park.  Primitive, but homey, they provide shelter for some of the more than 250 species of birds that have been spotted here:

Almost to demonstrate the park and lake's attractiveness to birds, we caught sight of this great blue heron, who went almost unnoticed upshore from the lake to our right as we passed on the trail:

Cattails were plentiful in some damper areas, although most have succumbed to the season and weather.  Here, one hardy fellow stands proudly, as if to say he is a lone survivor:

As we hiked around to the head of the lake, we got a look at Neshaminy Creek as it empties into the lake:

The other direction from the bridge over the lake's inlet, we could see some geese gathering in the mud flats.  As we passed, another squadron of geese approached, and signalling, landed right amidst these squatters:

There are at least a half dozen fishing piers on the lake, and fishing is permitted except at the inlet of Neshaminy Creek.  Here are views across the lake from one pier --

-- and down the lake from another:

While David took some photos, Kathy paused to adjust her hiking socks:

The bottom of the lake is bounded by a huge earthen dam nearly a half mile long, complete with path along its crest:

From the dam, we could make out a flock of seagulls congregating for some sort of mischief near the north bank of the lake:

To the west, glinting in the descending sun, we saw Neshaminy Creek where it flowed out of the lake and through a wintry looking wetland:

The hike was a good stretch for us after too many days of logistics, chores, errands and socializing. We felt tired but stretched by the time we got back to the truck.  A pot of hot chili awaited us as we returned home!