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Erie Canal Neighbors Association
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DIR Return to: Erie Canal & Embankment Dam Integrity
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#Post#: 641--------------------------------------------------
Erie Canal Embankment & Trail work is now COMPLETE... see
the latest pictures.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 18, 2019, 2:05 pm
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Today was the FINAL STEP of the Embankment Rehabilitation
Process... Stone Dust for Erie Canal Trail Restoration
Here's a few pictures showing the stone dust equipment... minus
the giant roller.
[attachimg=1]
It's not too noisy...and it's a very QUICK process.. runs
continuously as long as the truck is there filling the hopper.
This process is running about 900' per hour, they will have
finished the 1.35 mile long Embankment Dam east of Brockport in
less than 7 hours. They started at the Park Ave bridge at 8:30
am.
If they find anything large in this step there is a repair made
before the roller does its job. This is the repair being made
for several large stones found in the stone dust
So what does the Brockport East Dam Look like today? Here's the
comparison to the pictures
BEFORE Trail Repair
[attachimg=2]
And AFTER the Trail has been repaired.
[attachimg=3]
So... what do you think... was it a good idea or not to fix the
unsafe embankments and "Reimagine" a safer Erie Canal?
#Post#: 657--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment & Trail work is now COMPLETE...
see the latest pictures.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 25, 2019, 9:09 am
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Just when you think the Erie Canal Trail restoration work is
done... the Canal Corp Rehabilitation workers add their final
touches... Trail Edge
Here's what the ECT Trail Edger looked like... seems like they
are using standard highway construction equipment
[attachimg=1]
And a nice collage of the process to add a stone dust retaining
edge to the ECT... which if you didn't know it is REALLY an
Embankment Dam Inspection & Service Road
[attachimg=2]
And instantly the restored Canal Trail is made even that much
better
[attachimg=3]
Here is a GREAT video of the process to add trail edge support
taken "drone style"
HTML https://drive.google.com/open?id=14Fehk1oAesBOPm_LGrGg87sfhrAtaw27
#Post#: 660--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment & Trail work is now COMPLETE...
see the latest pictures.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 30, 2019, 2:07 pm
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Of course the Erie Canal Trail work evened the edging out the
next day or so... and here's the other side of the trail getting
it's edge
[attachimg=1]
If anyone doubted the ability of the Canal Corporation to
complete the first prototype of Embankment Rehab just take a
look.
Here's where the embankments all started:
[attachimg=2]
And here's the same dam in Zone 37... edged on both sides and
READY right on time.
[attachimg=3]
Just in time for what you ask?
The Canalway Challenge
HTML https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge
Journey Along the Erie Canal
HTML https://www.ourability.com/journey-along-the-erie-canal/
NY Parks & Trails - Cycle The Erie Canal
HTML https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/annual-bike-tour
For more on Trail Repair on the Western Section of the Erie
Canal Trail... see the Orleans Hub
HTML https://orleanshub.com/new-surface-of-crushed-limestone-dust-put-on-towpath/
#Post#: 1270--------------------------------------------------
Erie Canal Embankment Integrity Work... One Year Later
DIR By: Doug K
Date: September 4, 2020, 1:37 pm
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If it hasn't sunk in yet... the Erie Canal is lined with
Embankment Dams, 127 miles of them. These earthen dams haven't
been seen in many years due to the number of trees covering
them. They also haven't been inspected, which should worry those
living below them... for miles.
This is what it looked like in 2017, just before the initial
clearing.
[attachimg=1]
And since the New York State Canal Corporation, and their parent
company New York Power Authority, decided to embark on an
Earthen Embankment safety program, to clear the danger and make
these embankment dams "safe again", there has been an uproar in
the Rochester area, which has now boiled over to the point where
people are making fools of themselves, trying to fight against
public safety initiatives in our area.
Worse yet, the folks fighting against dam safety, are doing it
in the name of the environment. That would be the same
"'environment' that the Canal Corporation is trying to protect,
from what could be a devastating flood... yes flood like Midland
Michigan. The dam that broke in Midland was the same height as
many along the Erie Canal in our area. One thing the Midland
folks wanted and didn't get, was an advanced warning about the
flood danger. Rochester has been told about the danger and many
are choosing to fight against it, online, on Facebook.
Sadly the voice of the true Canal Neighbors to these unsafe
Earthen Dams, have been drowned out by the voices of those who
are casual guests of NYPA. They are folks who walk along the top
of the dams, on the Canal Corporation's Empire Trail, and they
feel taking away "trees" is a sin. Even unsafe, dangerous ones
making 127 miles of ERie Canal Dams unsafe...
But enough about "a fools journey"
So we've been showing this embankment transformation on the ECNA
Forum for a few years now... my wife & I see it every day and
wonder why we never saw it before. Take a look and see the
difference a change in vegetation does to an embankment dam...
this section is 400' long, about 16' tall.
[attachimg=2]
Now you look at these pictures and decide... do you see an
embankment dam?
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
And guess what, it's no surprise that most people using the
Trail and Canal now say the Erie Canal looks BETTER with grass
along the Empire Trail, grass that is now covering those long
earthen dams which used to be covered with trees. That is the
consensus from impromptu polling in our backyard.
Can you imagine that? Good looking. better views & SAFER too,
it's a miracle!
And what of the Canal Corporation and New York Power Authority?
Well they were able to fix 20% of their Unsafe Embankments just
like this, in spite of the failed efforts of a well meaning,
but mis-guided Facebook group, trying to stand in their way...
you know who you all are.
Here's the view from the Bottom of the Embankment
[attachimg=5]
And from the Top of "The Dam in our Backyard"
[attachimg=6]
Many people around the Rochester area have been spreading false
narratives and "fake news" about this Canal Embankment Program,
let's set the record straight now:
1) As you can see the grass (and weeds) are nice & green. The
grass does get mowed periodically, more than the FEMA required
two per season mowing. Was it brown in the heat of summer? Yes,
of course, just like the grass in our own backyards.
2) The embankment is not "washing away" or eroding now that
grass has replaced the trees, no big washouts as some have
stated. Very stable & SAFE, even in the worst downpours we have
had lately.
3) There is plenty of wildlife along these "new" embankments, we
see fox, deer, geese and plenty of raccoons. There are no
burrowing animals here now. And plenty of waterfowl and raptors
are now easy to see, no trees block the view.
4) The Canal Corporation can now find and MARK the leaks on the
dams, which was impossible to do before. We have four pink
"leak" stakes here on our dam, and those leak everyday. Of
course the repaired Tow Drain System now catches and diverts
that leaking water where it should go.
5) The visitor traffic on the Empire Trail is alive & well. Some
folks said that visitors & tourists would stop using the Erie
Canal with the trees gone, that didn't happen. If anything, the
Covid pandemic has brought more people out to use the Waterway &
Empire Trail this season, and many people from other countries
are raving about the look... it's what is normal to them.
6) All of the trees are NOT GONE as you can see in the pictures,
just the dangerous ones on the earthen dams, still have shade,
still have plenty of oxygen here. Many trees are left still,
just not on the earthen embankments. So anyone or any group
saying that the Canal Corporation will "take down all the
trees". is simply spreading false information.
Just a reminder about the phony narrative and fake news
regarding this Canal Embankment work. Normally these statements
seem to come from "fake environmentalist" trying to push an
agenda that has nothing to do with community safety or canal
sustainability. It's more about their narrow-minded views of any
changes to the Erie Canal that might upset the little worlds
they have created for themselves on their walk along it.
These folks tend to say: 'If it's not broke don't fix it', but
sadly they can't understand the Canal is broken and this is what
a proper repair looks like. What you see in these pictures is
summed up by these two words... Safer Dams
But it may just take a devastating flood of Canal Neighbors to
prove the Canal is a catastrophe just waiting to happen,
especially to this group of Facebook folks fighting against
change...
#Post#: 1448--------------------------------------------------
A Short Walk on the Erie Canal Trail along a fully restored Erie
Canal Embankment.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: March 26, 2021, 6:11 am
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Here's the official letter, sent to Erie Canal Neighbors,
regarding the much anticipated Earthen Embankment Restoration
phase of the Dam Safety Project started here in Brockport, and
to all Canal Towns west of here, in 2017.
It confirms what the ECNA has already reported, but gives an
estimated COMPLETION date for all the EERP Barrier Restoration
planting... late May. As we see progress we will post pictures
here, and ask that other neighbors do the same.
The red underlined words are a statement that hasn't been made
enough, so we will make sure it is now.
Because it's ALWAYS been about Safety, safety of the Canal
Employees, the Canal Neighbors, and the Canal Trail & Waterway
users.
You can follow the link below for more on the original
Embankment Restoration Project.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/vegetation/index.html
[attachimg=1]
#Post#: 1449--------------------------------------------------
EERP Restoration Barrier Planting Pictures & Video
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 1, 2021, 9:31 am
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Right on cue, again, the NYS Canal Corporation has their Earthen
Embankment Restoration Project (EERP) Field Supervisor on the
job, directing their Partner/Supplier Wayside Nursery from
Lockport, as the final phase of the EERP dam clearing continues
where is left off. The embankment marking process is closely
followed by men, women and machines that start planting
according the finalized EERP Barrier Plan that was created by
the NYS Canal Corporation and CH Associates, their environmental
design partner.
Below are pictures of the process of digging holes, planting the
natural privacy screening plants that are allowed
[attachimg=1]
Top picture is looking EAST towards where the EERP finished,
Bottom picture is looking WEST towards Brockport Village
[attachimg=2]
As you can see there is plenty of room for hikers & bikers
[attachimg=3]
#Post#: 1457--------------------------------------------------
A Short Walk on the Erie Canal Trail along a fully restored Erie
Canal Embankment.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: April 20, 2021, 5:13 pm
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For those of you who have waited faithfully, just a bit over 3
years now, here's the finished product from the NYS Canal
Corporation and their Earthen Embankment Restoration Project.
This is what a safe dam looks like, that has also had a barrier
planting added to mitigate privacy issues between the Empire
State / Erie Canal Trail (ECT) and many neighboring properties.
The picture shows the view from the bottom, one most people do
not see who use the trail.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
For those neighbors affected by the Earthen Embankment
Restoration Project (EERP), if you see the EERP work behind your
home, go out and ask to see the plan for planting along your
property. The NYS Canal Corporation normally has a Project Lead
on the work site and they have a very detailed plan for each
neighboring property.
I thought about what we asked for when input was requested for
the Barrier Screening Plan and I also know what was delivered.
The REMOVAL phase of EERP along our property actually removed
about 37 trees.
The NYS Canal Corporation planted 80 privacy shrubs/bushes in
it's place during the RESTORATION phase
Our property received 25% MORE plantings than we asked for, and
60% were evergreen type. We wanted 100% but that would have
capped the total at 60 trees total, and we have 80 now.
The best part is that the Evergreens were planted to get the
best amount of sound protection from the surrounding roadways,
and also highest level of privacy for the bulk of our property.
Many trees were placed directly in alignment with the source of
the noise pollution in most cases.
You look at the pictures and decide if the new look is better
than the mess that used to be there , making the embankment
unsafe, dropping tree limbs all over the trail and neighboring
properties.
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
#Post#: 1458--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Short Walk on the Erie Canal Trail along a fully restored
Erie Canal Embankment.
DIR By: Michael Caswell
Date: April 21, 2021, 6:58 am
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SHARP! Well done NYPA!
#Post#: 1482--------------------------------------------------
Erie Canal Embankment Restoration in Brockport is now complete,
What a Difference!
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 7, 2021, 1:39 pm
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First of all, full disclosure, because that's always best when
you are listening to anyone talking about the Erie Canal &
Earthen Embankments. There are a few folks out there with some
strange views about this work, and there are quite a few Canal
Neighbors who simply do not want to see the danger in their own
backyard.
I am an Erie Canal Neighbor and my wife & I live BELOW the
waterline of a newly repaired earthen embankment that was deemed
unsafe in 2017. Our embankment had vegetation removed in 2018,
grass planted in 2019, and a year of embankment stabilization in
2020. Finally in 2021 the original project of fixing canal
embankments has reached the final phase of "restoration" here,
that is restoring the privacy and peace of mind we had before
this work started.
Seeing the culmination of this New York State Canal Corporation
(NYSCC) Earthen Embankment Restoration Project (EERP) play out
over 4 years has been "interesting" to say the least. We have
learned quite a bit about the canal, and how it's run by New
York State, and also the major differences between the neighbors
that live along the canal and the many "guests" of the Canal
Corporation, who walk along the Top of the Embankment Dams along
what's called the Empire Trail.
For some of us NEIGHBORS, this EERP work has only been yet
another issue to divide neighborhoods, friends, & family.
Hopefully with the final stages of Embankment Restoration
completing now, those neighborhoods & old relationships will
start to heal.
For some of the GUESTS of the NYSCC, the changes being made to
the Erie Canal, in the name of Public Safety, have been
something to "resist & protest", simply due to lack of
understanding what the real, tangible problems are with 100 year
old earthen dams and running a 200 year old water "highway".
But after you look at the final set of PICTURES that will be
posted here, you decide what is better for the sustainability of
the Canal System, the safety of Trail Users & Neighbors living
below these embankments and whether or not the NYS Canal
Corporation delivered on their promise of a safe, grass-covered
embankment and privacy restored to those neighbors who needed
it.
Just so that we are clear about the FUNDAMENTAL reason for the
NYS Canal Corporation's EERP work.. it was to remove unwanted,
over grown vegetation and replant grass covering, the only
vegetation approved for this type of earthen, water impounding
structure. That is shown in this picture.
[attachimg=1]
And some Canal Neighboring properties required a NATURAL privacy
barrier planting, to mitigate issues caused by the clearing of
the overgrown vegetation that was on the embankments for the
past 75 years. It looks like this.
[attachimg=2]
Drum Roll Please...
Here's a nice view of our "east" embankment... part of a 1 mile
long Earthen Dam. The pictures were taken from relatively the
same spot and show Before Vegetation Removal, After Grass
Planting and now with a fully RESTORED privacy barrier. Note
that the new barrier vegetation is only placed at the very TOP
of the embankment, where a shrubs & bushes of this size would be
allowed. Also note that the unwanted vegetation was 60 - 80 feet
tall and the new variety has a peak height of about 12 -15'
[attachimg=3]
What a difference, right? Well here's the view looking west from
almost the same spot... an even more pronounced affect on the
neighborhood.
[attachimg=4]
So I will ask again, why would anyone complain about getting a
SAFER Earthen Embankment that looked like this?
Nothing was "clear-cut" as some have been claiming.
And others, who have been opposed to this work have stated that
a lack of oxygen would occur due to all the trees being removed.
The plan all along was clear here, remove the WRONG vegetation
on the Earthen Dams and REPLACE it with the allowed & approved
vegetation.
The Canal Corporation will soon announce that they actually have
REPLACED the cleared away embankment vegetation, mostly large
overgrown or dead Willows & Cottonwoods, with over 1700 new
plantings. As many as 6 different varieties and many are
evergreen types, providing year round privacy screening for the
neighbors living below. They may also be stating that they
replanted MORE than they removed, along the 25+ miles of
Embankments they cleared as part of this EERP effort.
But sadly that still will NOT matter to a few individuals in the
Rochester and surrounding suburbs. Because some people simply do
not accept "any changes" in Life as well as others might. It's
all part of the Science of Change, which shows a set pattern
that most people take, when confronted by a significant change
or event in their life "bubbles".
It's outlined below in the image, and comments made are mine.
[attachimg=5]
I have taught classes on the Science of Change, to many people
in my career, and I will ask you the same question... based on
this particular change along the Erie Canal.
What Stage of Change are you at, when it comes to clearing
unsafe Canal Embankment vegetation and replacing with grass and
approved greenery?
More pictures will be added as the Winterberry & Dogwood shrubs
start to get their new leaves, which will no doubt help the
privacy aspect of this new Restoration Barrier planting. If any
other Canal Neighbors want to share their own embankment
restoration pictures please do so.
#Post#: 1691--------------------------------------------------
Re: Erie Canal Embankment & Trail work is now COMPLETE...
see the latest pictures.
DIR By: Doug K
Date: August 9, 2021, 7:19 am
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Hopefully this post will END the continued MISREPRESENTATION
going on in a certain Facebook Group.
It appears that a Facebook group in the Rochester NY area,
called Stop the Canal Clear-cut, is trying to pass off 2-3 year
old pictures of westside embankment maintenance as the final
version of the EEIP work to clear unsafe embankments. Here's a
recent post by a new member of the group, note the picture being
used that was from a Kerri Neale.
[attachimg=1]
Now the TRUTH is that the Canal Restoration along the 60 mile
canal pool, west of Rochester, has been COMPLETED and is now
fully restored, and it DOESN"T look anything like what this
group has portrayed to it's membership.
Here's a the embankment view looking EAST, taken this morning,
August 9, 2021
[attachimg=2]
And here's the same spot...looking WEST.
[attachimg=3]
You can look at the BEFORE & AFTER photos posted here, in the
prior posts & replies, all pictures were taken within a few
paces of each other. And you can also see the "during" images,
as construction equipment was used to clear, prep, and replant
grass where all that invasive vegetation use to be. Everything
is here from seeding to trail repair after the embankment work
has been completed.
Now which images to you think show conditions that pose LESS
DANGER to the embankment dam structure?
Which pictures show conditions that would have less issues from
"falling trees or limbs" on the Empire Trail?
Which images show embankments that have increased the ability,
to properly inspect the earthen water impounding structures?
And that is exactly what the NYS Canal Corporation said they
needed to do, and is also the impetus behind this Earthen Dam
Safety Program.
It's not about harvesting trees, it's not about saving the
environment...it about RESTORING PUBLIC SAFETY along the NYS
Canal System.
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