Most of Erie Canal Open to Boaters This Weekend

Champlain and Central New York Canals Still Closed Due to High Waters

ALBANY, NY (05/13/2011)(readMedia)--

Two additional stretches of the Erie Canal will be opened to navigation beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 14, the New York State Canal Corporation announced today.

These areas are a 153-mile-long section from Waterford in Saratoga County to Brewerton in Onondaga County, and a 51-mile-long section from Clyde in Wayne County to the Genesee River in Rochester in Monroe County.

A 77-mile-long section of the Erie Canal between Rochester and Tonawanda has been open to navigation since May 1.

Still closed to boaters because of high waters are the 56-mile-long section of the Erie Canal from Brewerton to Clyde, the Champlain Canal, the Oswego Canal, the Genesee River and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.

"This opening is a testament to the efforts of the hard working men and women who make this historic waterway run as smoothly as it did when it first opened," said Canal Director Brian U. Stratton. "Despite the extreme conditions we've experienced recently, I'm pleased to say that all but a small section of the Erie Canal shortly will be open for business."

Persistent high waters and excessive currents of resulting from recent heavy rains had delayed the opening of parts of the Canal system. The water levels and currents resulted in unsafe conditions for Canal workers to place buoys and other navigation aids, and to install necessary water control devices.

Stratton said that Canal crews are hoping to have all of the 524-mile Canal system open to the public before the Memorial Day weekend. Water conditions are re-evaluated daily.

"We recognize the economic impact that the Canal System has to canal communities all across New York, and are doing our best to get the entire Canal operational," Stratton said.

-30-

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture. For more information regarding events, recreational and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.canals.ny.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

For information about events along the New York State Canal system, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.ny.gov.

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the weblink www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/ .

###