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#Post#: 2404--------------------------------------------------
Erie Canal Embankment Integrity & Trail Safety Work
Continues, just not in Monroe County
DIR By: Doug K
Date: March 23, 2023, 8:51 am
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Just when it looked like the NYS Canal Embankment Maintenance
work would be halted for yet another Winter season, an
announcement has come out on the NYS Canal Corporation website
that shows NYS will NOT be intimidated by "Facebook Pressure"
against performing their embankment dam safety work.
And that new Canal Corporation Announcement was found on a NEW
section of the NYS Canal's website, dedicated to Canal Trail
Advisories.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/trails/projects.html
Normally the ECNA has relied on the Empire State Trail website
for Trail Closures, since they seem to be the better
organization to link canal work and trail use. The website still
shows the Palmyra/Macedon Canal breach section as closed, from
the 2021, as well as a few newer closures for work on a Trail
washout, and another improvement near the NYS Fairgrounds. The
Empire State Trail website does not show these two new trail
closures.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://empiretrail.ny.gov/trail-closures
What makes this new announcement so noteworthy?
It states that the closure for the trail is due to repairs to
the canal bank & trail.
And the Canal Corporation has also has included a Topo Map
inset, so people can see where the work is being done. Look at
the image below, see the large area of TREES right along this
section of NYS Barge Canal? That is an Earthen Embankment folks,
and one that has reached the point where it needs repairs to be
safe again
And now it's time to fix it... hopefully without protest or
community "interference".
After all, who would want to stand in the way of Public Safety
improvement?
This NYS Canal Corporation Trail webpage has gone unused for
quite a few years, which is why the ECNA is surprised to find
this information here.
And now it appears to be under a new heading called PROJECTS,
which is exactly what many have asked for, a place for the
PUBLIC to find information on trail closures, that are directly
related to NYS Canal Maintenance Work & Projects. This is a
welcome change and proof positive that the NYS Canal Corporation
is also working to improve "transparency & communication".
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/trails/projects.html
Of equal importance, while not mentioned in this notice, this
new canal PROJECT notice, along with subsequent trail work, only
fits into ONE PROGRAM currently being run by the NYS Canal
Corporation, their Earthen Embankment Integrity Program.
That program is known as EEIP, and has been contested by a small
group of social media users in the Towns of Perinton, Pittsford
and Brighton.
HTML https://ecna.us/eeip/
In fact these three town successfully halted the state canal
repair program, albeit temporarily, while the NYS Canal
Corporation conducted a more thorough State Environmental Study
in 2020 - 2022. That study concluded late last year, and the
work has now been APPROVED to move forward, with a new SEQR
Environmental Study and Embankment Maintenance Handbook to guide
all embankment restoration activities.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/FGEIS/Final_Guide_Book_and_Attachments.pdf
Meanwhile back in MONROE COUNTY...
The NYS Canal Corporation (NYSCC) has the task of repairing the
Erie Canal, fixing canal safety issues that are a hundred years
old, and all while insuring they don't ruffle the feathers of
the Town Leaders, and those social media denialist who are still
stating that "NOTHING is wrong with the Erie Canal".
So they have to publish "local notices" like this one on the
Perinton Town Website...stating that their work is NOT part of
the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program.
Think about that statement for a moment, this State Agency has
to explain to ONE Township, located in Monroe County, that the
work being done to fix canal deficiencies is NOT part of a NYS
program dedicated to the safety and integrity of the Erie Canal.
This NYSCC "denial" seems to be an effort just to avoid another
frivolous lawsuit that would stop their canal safety work
again...
Or maybe it's just to avoid the severe backlash the Canal
Corporation has seen on Facebook by a local Perinton group?
[attachimg=3]
HTML https://perinton.org/news/notice-nys-canal-construction-in-the-town-of-perinton/
And while Perinton Town Leaders claim they are "very concerned"
about Public Safety along the Erie Canal, they haven't even
taken the time to publish the new FINAL version of the NYS Canal
Corporation Embankment Integrity Guidebook or FINAL state
required Environmental Review on their "Community Projects"
website.
The Leaders of these three Monroe County communities still are
in "denial", like the Facebook group within their community
still fighting against Canal Repairs & Maintenance. They seem
oblivious about how badly the NYS Barge Canal system has
deteriorated over the past 100 years, and are unwilling to
listen to those who are charged with keeping the Canal System in
"good working order".
[attachimg=4]
HTML https://perinton.org/departments/public-works/building-and-codes-department/pr/
Hopefully 2023 brings an end to the public denial & protest of
what most other States in the Country would call "routine dam
maintenance".
Hopefully smarter people will speak up and tell these Facebook
frauds, and "closed minded" community leaders, that they want
the Erie canal repaired...
Hopefully this will be done to insure that someday the NYS Canal
Corporation will be able to fill the Erie Canal fully with
water, and the neighbors along the Erie Waterway will be able to
know that the 300+ seeps & leaks currently plaguing the Barge
Canal System are actively being repaired.
HTML https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2022-12-01/state-releases-new-guidelines-for-clearing-trees-shrubs-from-erie-canal-embankments
Because right now the issues with Canal Embankment Integrity are
hitting MONROE COUNTY, NY the hardest...
[attachimg=5]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/notices/ntm.aspx?id=2030
#Post#: 2405--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment Integrity & Trail Safety Work
Continues, per NYS Comptroller Report
DIR By: Doug K
Date: March 23, 2023, 9:06 am
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And since many of you still seem unsure about WHY the NYS Canal
Corporation and parent agency the New York Power Authority are
fixing the Erie Canal, it's because the "prior ownership" of the
NYS canal System simply REFUSED to FUND any safety repairs,
unless absolutely required, like the issue had reached
"emergency" levels.
This was all outlined in a published 2015 NYS Comptroller
Report, stating that the MAJORITY of the NYS Canal System has
gone UNINSPECTED for almost 100 years.
Mandatory NYS Required Canal Inspections were NOT DONE when it
was owned by the NYS Thruway Authority.
Now that New York Power Authority owns the Canal System they are
required to inspect their Earthen Dams or lose their regulatory
standing as a public energy supplier.
It's always "safety first" with any companies who impound water
that will be used to generate electricity in this country.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2015/05/dinapoli-canal-corp-must-address-gaps?redirect=legacy
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.osc.state.ny.us/files/audits/2017-12/sga-2015-14s45.pdf
#Post#: 2410--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment Integrity Work Continues at German
Flatts in Herkimer County
DIR By: Doug K
Date: March 25, 2023, 8:55 am
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As expected, the Empire State Trail group has now posted this
NEW Erie Canal Trail closure in Herkimer County at German
Flatts
The reason is clear... it's for a REPAIR of the Earthen
Embankment there, falling under the jurisdiction of the new
Canal Corporation Integrity Program.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://empiretrail.ny.gov/trail-closures
The Earthen Embankment Integrity Work continues...
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/
#Post#: 2418--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment Integrity & Trail Safety Work
Continues, just not in Monroe County
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 5, 2023, 7:31 am
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It's becoming very apparent now, EEIP is alive and well,
repairing Erie Canal Embankment "slopes" and also tidying up the
Empire State Trail afterwards...
In ORLEANS County this time
Here's two newly announced Trail Advisories, part of more
"transparent" communication from the New York State Canals &
Power Authority.
[attachimg=1]
TOWN of ALBION
[attachimg=2]
TOWN of RIDGEWAY
The Earthen Embankment Integrity Work continues...
HTML https://www.nyscanalintegrity.org/
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/trails/projects.html
#Post#: 2420--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment Integrity & Trail Safety Work
Continues, just not in Monroe County
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 5, 2023, 7:44 am
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Watch for Erie Canal Trail Closure Announcements here as well,
they just posted the one at German Flatts
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/the-trail/trail-closures
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