New York State Canal System Opens For 183rd Consecutive Navigation Season

More Than 160 Events and Festivals Planned

ALBANY, NY (05/01/2008)(readMedia)--

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the official opening of the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca and Oswego canals of the New York State Canal System for the 183rd consecutive navigation season.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said, “The Canal System is one of the great treasures of New York State. The recreational opportunities provided by the extensive canal network help boost local economies and give families a reliable, safe and relaxing way to see all the Empire State has to offer.”

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari said, “New York’s Canal System represents a direct link to the history of this great state and the entire country. The opening of this legendary system provides an important economic boost to communities along the canals as well as numerous recreational opportunities and events which will bring the canal alive this summer. I encourage all New Yorkers to consider visiting the Canal System this year.”

Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello said, “The New York State Canal System is a tremendous recreational and commercial asset to the people of our State. The Canal System welcomes visitors from across the country and the globe each year. The Corporation has been hard at work over the winter months undertaking critical maintenance work and preparing the System for the upcoming season. With over 160 events and festivals planned, we look forward to a banner year on the Canal System.”

The opening of the Champlain Canal is being delayed due to high water. The Corporation anticipates opening the Champlain Canal as soon as conditions allow.

More than 160 special events and festivals are planned along the Canal System in 2008, including local annual favorites such as Waterford Canal Fest (May 10), Fairport Canal Days (June 7-8), Glens Falls Feeder Canal Canoe Race (June 7), Lock 7-12 Canalfest (July 12-13), CanalFest of the Tonawandas (July 13-20), Harborfest in Oswego (July 24-28), and the Waterford Tugboat Roundup (September 5-7) return once again, as well as many new soon to be favorites.

The annual Erie Canalway Trail Celebration will be held Saturday, June 7 in conjunction with National Trails Day. With more than 260 miles of Trail completed, and access to hundreds of historic sites and attractions, the Erie Canalway Trail is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier cycling destinations.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Cycling the Erie Canal bicycle tour, taking place from July 6-13th. The Canal Corporation is once again partnering with Parks & Trails NY to co-sponsor the eight-day, 400-mile, recreational bike tour from Buffalo to Albany along the historic and scenic Erie Canal. In 2007, the tour drew over 500 riders from many states and several foreign countries.

In addition, the Canal Corporation, in partnership with Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, is once again sponsoring the Third Annual CanalSplash!, a signature canal-wide celebration from August 8-10 that will feature hikes, bikes, canoe and kayak paddles, narrated cruises, historical tours, canal-side festivals, fireworks and more. In 2007, more than 100 events took place all along the Canal Corridor throughout the weekend celebration. To register your Canal Splash! event, visit www.canalsplash.com today!

The complete 2008 Calendar of Events is available on the Corporation’s website at: http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/calendar/index.html.

Boaters are reminded that recreational tolls for use of the Canal System locks and lift bridges have been reinstated for 2008. All motorized pleasure craft boats passing through any lock or lift bridge must purchase a Two-Day, Ten-Day or Seasonal Pass. Tolls for recreational craft are based on vessel size. The fee schedule, list of sales locations, and pass application can be found by visiting our website, www.nyscanals.gov.

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.

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 the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

For boating information, vacation opportunities and news about the New York State Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

-30-