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#Post#: 2710--------------------------------------------------
NYS Canal Corporation 2025 Navigation Season Announcement
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 16, 2025, 8:39 am
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It's a banner year for the NYS Canal System with one of the
longest operating seasons announced today. This coincides with
the Bicentennial Birthday for the "original" Erie Canal, and
Centennial year of the current NYS Erie - Barge Canal.
[attachimg=1]
The Canal System will be open for 25 weeks this year, though
lift-bridge & lock operations will still be run for its normal
May - September schedule.
[attachimg=2]
More information can be found at the Notice to Mariners website.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Boating-Information/Canal-Alerts
#Post#: 2713--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYS Canal Corporation 2025 Navigation Opening Delayed due to
Weather
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 9, 2025, 4:15 pm
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Just announced by the NYS Canals:
The NYS Canal Corporation today announced that the New York
State Canal system will open in phases beginning Friday, May
16th due to severe weather that has necessitated a delay in the
opening schedule for the Canal system.
Specifically, significant rainfall has created high flows and
unsafe conditions along the Eastern and Central Erie Canal,
Champlain Canal, and Oswego Canal..
The NYS Canal System will open from Lockport to Lyons as
scheduled on May 16th. The rest of the waterway will open when
water levels along river sections has lowered, and safe
navigation is possible.
If you live in the Seneca River section of the Canal System,
like we do, you know the canal is about 4 feet above normal
levels with the recent rain events we've seen around the Finger
Lakes & Syracuse area. Most docks are now 3' or more underwater.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.facebook.com/nycanals/
[attachimg=2]
Meanwhile the whining has begun on Facebook... about flooding.
[attachimg=3]
We've learned quickly living here along the "river-ized canal"
that 1" of rain ANYWHERE in the Finger Lakes means that
eventually the Seneca River will rise by 12-15". We've had
nearly 3" of rain so far in late April thru May 9, so you do the
math...
Of course all of this doesn't seem to jive with LOWER water
levels on the Cayuga - Seneca Canal that the NYSCC announced
just earlier today... so what gives?
Notice to Mariners Water Level – Cayuga–Seneca Canal
Mariners are advised that the upper navigation pool at
Cayuga–Seneca Canal Lock CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls will continue to
be operated approximately two feet below the normal navigation
level, until further notice, due to ongoing maintenance by the
local hydroelectric operator.
Warning buoys will be placed in isolated shallow areas of the
navigation channel that may have a draft as low as seven feet.
These lower water levels may affect boats and docks on the
impoundment between Lock CS-2/3 and Lock CS-4 in Waterloo.
Now... just a guess on my part:
If the Canal Corporation is keeping water levels LOWER that are
already "above" the Seneca River elevation of 374' (ASL) that
would certainly mean that other areas may be HIGHER than normal
to receive more water flow downstream... is that right?
Sadly if anyone brings these questions up to the "powers to be"
within the NY Canal & Power Authority the answer is always the
same...
It's a designated FLOOD ZONE... what else would you expect?
It's certainly NO SECRET that the NYS Canal Corporation treats
the Seneca River sections and parts EAST like a big "water
trashcan", dumping water anytime they like, without notice to
residents, because FEMA gave them a green light with that "flood
zone" designation.
And local Townships seem unable or unwilling to help those
residents affected most by all this flooding, a slap in the face
to waterfront taxpayers.
So much for those "water management strategies" that were
supposed to happen with Mr. Stratton's Flood Resilience Group.
#Post#: 2715--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYS Canal 2025 Navigation Season Delayed 5 weeks by Earthen
Embankment Safety Issues
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 15, 2025, 6:52 am
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Well, it seems the TRUTH is finally coming out, about why the
NYS Canal System opening is being "delayed". This announcement
just released today.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Boating-Information/Canal-Alerts/Message?id=6687896
There is a PDF version available here:
HTML https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/newyorkpowe2bd0-canalsf418-productionbf60-c829/media/Files/Press-Releases/2025/20250514-Canals-Phased-Opening-Press-Release.pdf
There are now STRUCTURAL issues with a movable lock coming to
light and also an EARTHEN EMBANKMENT that is failing near Lock
16 that is saturated & seeping, causing a bit of concern in the
ranks of the NYS Canal Corporation.
[attachimg=1]
Here's the KEY POINTS from today's announcement, including how
long it may take to repair the issues and get the center section
of the Canal open for navigation.
Crews are actively working at two locations just west of Erie
Canal Lock E-16.
The first location – the Rocky Rift movable dam that regulates
the navigation pool in this area – was significantly damaged
while being operated to adjust flows during the recent
rainstorms.
In addition, crews are mitigating a saturated seep along an
earthen embankment between the lock and movable dam. Both
repairs must be completed to ensure safe navigation – an
essential part of maintaining this more than 100-year-old
infrastructure in 2025.
The Canal Corporation anticipates these repairs will be
completed in four to five weeks from today’s date.
The Canal Corporation appreciates the patience of mariners and
the public while crews complete the necessary repairs to the
movable dam and earthen embankment.
Perhaps it's time for the New York Power Authority to STOP
pandering to a group of Facebook Protestors in Rochester who
don't want these aging embankments cleared & repaired and START
fixing the public safety nightmare that the Erie Canal is
quickly becoming.
The Canal Corporation EEIP Program, created to address the issue
with aging embankments, is still floundering, unable to get
started properly due to social media pressure on Facebook.
It's time to either FIX the Canal System or start discussions on
how to CLOSE it and return the local landscapes to something
that insures the safety of communities.... regardless of the
affect on a handful of "loopers" who think their annual yacht
trips should come at the expense of public safety in NY State.
Hard to understand exactly how the NYS Canal Corporation sets
their priorities when it comes to "public safety" along the Erie
Canal System. It seems they are trying to juggle the FULL TIME
safety of tens of thousands of NY residents with the PART TIME
traffic that comes through every Spring & Fall with "snowbirds"
who travel by boat instead of cars. It's been almost 10 years
since the Canal System Safety Issues were reported by the State
Comptroller, and still embankments are failing, with repairs
only being done just prior to catastrophe.
It's not hard to understand that one day their refusal to
properly handle SAFETY CONCERNS, with the Canal System, will
result in yet another Erie Canal breach that will result in a
devastating flood & possible loss of life.. those words are
directly from their OWN analysis of the current state of the
canal infrastructure... go look it up.
#Post#: 2716--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYSCC 2025 Navigation Message: Sorry, Closed for Embankment
Repairs
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 19, 2025, 6:24 pm
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Trying hard to lessen the blow, but it looks like the Canal will
be closed for thru traffic at Lock 16-17 for awhile. This notice
just out on the Notice to Mariners webpage.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Boating-Information/Canal-Alerts/Message?id=6724096
The Erie Canal between Lock E-16 and Lock E-17 will remain
closed until further notice while repairs to the Rocky Rift
movable dam and the earthen embankment west of Lock E-16 are
completed.
[attachimg=1]
A map of the New York State Canal system displaying closed
sections can be found here:
HTML https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/newyorkpowe2bd0-canalsf418-productionbf60-c829/media/Files/Navinfo/UpdatedClosure.pdf
#Post#: 2717--------------------------------------------------
Re: Canal Corporation Announcement - Closed until Embankment
Repairs are Done
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 23, 2025, 7:06 am
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Another update from the Canal Corporation regarding 2025 Canal
Opening Delays... it will be mid to late JUNE before the issue
with a seeping earthen embankment will be repaired.
Sadly all of this Embankment Repair work could have been
addressed already, if only the Canal Corporation had followed
their own Guidelines, and not bowed to social media pressure to
stop that work back in 2018
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Here's a video from a local news station explaining more
HTML https://www.news10.com/video/repairs-needed-to-rocky-rift-dam/10739059
HTML https://www.news10.com/news/montgomery-county/repairs-needed-to-rocky-rift-dam-on-erie-canal/
#Post#: 2718--------------------------------------------------
Re: June 2 Update on NYS Canal Navigation
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 2, 2025, 8:05 am
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Just a quick update today on Navigation along the NYS Canal
System.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Boating-Information/Canal-Alerts
The Rocky Rift Dam & Embankment repairs still have about 5 miles
of the main Erie Channel closed from Lock E16-17. The expected
opening is still about 10-12 days from now, after they refill
the lock pool and test the integrity of the Earthen Embankment
that is seeping excessively. Of course this closure is stopping
travel from the Hudson River to the Oswego Canal which means
routes to Lake Ontario are also affected.
In addition the section of the Erie Canal between Locks E 24-26
is still closed due to continued high water & unsafe currents
with all the rain in and around the Finger Lakes area. This
closure includes the Cayuga-Seneca Canals which means any travel
coming from Lake Erie & all parts west is stopped, with no
access to those two major Finger Lakes. Both canal closures have
essentially closed thru traffic for the past 2 weeks, creating a
fair amount of "angry boaters" who can't get to home bases
We will add here that our place along the upper Seneca River has
FINALLY seen a significant drop in water levels the past week.
We have gone from 4-5' over the normal River levels to just
about 1-2' now. Our dock is just above the waterline at 375'
ASL, and the rains have seemed to stop as of late. All good news
for boaters and Erie Canal Neighbors in the Central NY area.
Should be a lesson here for all, something about Mother Nature,
and the Canal Corporation trying to work around what she
delivers. But also it's very hard to operate a 100 year old
Canal System that is failing both mechanically and structurally
with a lack of proper embankment maintenance and old & aging
locks & lift bridges.
It's high time that the Canal Corporation, and parent entity
NYPA, give NYS Residents & Erie Canal Neighbors an "update" on
how they plan to improve on keeping the canal SAFE & SUSTAINABLE
for everyone, and when we can expect proper maintenance to be
done on this century old waterway.
#Post#: 2719--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYS Canal Corporation - Update on Central NY Embankment
Repairs
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 5, 2025, 8:10 am
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Announced on June 4, now its waiting & watching if the leaking
Earthen Embankment between Locks can hold water and is safe for
normal operations.
Let's hope it does or their maybe some angry "loopers" stuck in
ports along the Canal for a few more weeks.
Erie Canal Infrastructure Repairs
Critical repairs to the Rocky Rift movable dam west of Lock E-16
in St. Johnsville have been completed. With the dam now
operational, the navigation pool between Lock E-16 and Lock E-17
in Little Falls is slowly being filled.
The earthen embankment with the identified seep is being
monitored to see how it reacts while holding water at the normal
navigation level.
If additional work is required on the embankment, the temporary
closure of this section may be extended beyond the original
estimate of June 11 - 18.
The Canal Corporation anticipates announcing another update on
Monday, June 9, 2025.
HTML https://www.localsyr.com/video/rain-causing-high-water-levels-and-damage-on-erie-canal/10791270
This story is from a news source in Little Falls, the Canal
Corporation is NOT ALLOWING any boats to moor between the locks
(#16-17) where the earthen embankment is seeping the dam surface
to a critical saturation point. That should be a wake-up call to
Erie Canal Neighbors living BELOW that 5 mile long earthen dam
that this IS a serious issue, beyond any other embankment issues
the NYS Canal Corporation has faced since the start if their
Earthen Embankment Integrity Program work.
HTML https://mylittlefalls.com/opening-erie-canal-lock-e-16-to-lock-e-17/
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