Third Annual “Canal Clean Sweep” to Kick Off This Weekend

APRIL 15, 2008 (04/15/2008)(readMedia)-- The Third Annual Canal Clean Sweep kicks off this weekend, April 19-20, with over 60 events scheduled in communities throughout the New York State Canal System corridor. Canal Clean Sweep is sponsored by the New York State Canal Corporation, Parks & Trails New York, and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) in preparation for the upcoming 183rd canal navigation season and in recognition of Earth Day.

The Canal Clean Sweep events will highlight the significance of the Canal System as a recreational and tourism destination in New York State as communities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations engage in cleanup and beautification activities along the Canal and the Canalway Trail. Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the Canal Corporation, said, “In just its third year, the Canal Clean Sweep continues to grow, with over 60 events planned by communities, not-for profits, and businesses throughout the corridor. This annual event brings hundreds of volunteers together to help spruce up the Canal System, including our parks and trails, and lay out the welcome mat for visitors to canal communities this spring. Through the Canal Clean Sweep and Connecting the Drops campaign, we want to remind New Yorkers that the pollution that drops on roads, parking lots, or other areas can eventually reach our waterways. We can all work together to prevent pollution and keep our waters clean.”

Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, said, “We are delighted that in just its third year the Canal Clean Sweep has grown into an event that truly spans the state along the NYS Canal System. This has happened because of the commitment of the many participating local businesses, civic organizations, student groups, trail adopters, and other individual volunteers who make things happen in their communities. Everyone who celebrates Earth Day 2008 by taking part in the Canal Clean Sweep can be proud of making a difference locally while at the same time contributing to a larger effort. We are pleased to be part of this unique partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation and local communities. We also look forward to joining with many of these same groups as part of the annual Canalway Trail Celebration on National Trails Day (June 7).”

Matthew Millea, Acting President of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, said, “EFC is extremely pleased to partner with the Canal Corporation and Parks and Trails New York in promoting Earth Day and the annual Canal Clean Sweep program. As the saying goes, we at EFC are thinking globally but acting locally in participating in the Clean Sweep program and in working with all of our partners in state government to promote the importance of pollution prevention and water conservation.” The Canal Corporation, Parks & Trails NY, and EFC are providing tee shirts, garbage bags and bottled water for all Clean Sweep volunteers and are also arranging for trash pickup following each of the events. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and supplies and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Connecting the Drops is a public outreach campaign of the New York State Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation. The goal of this outreach is to remind New Yorkers that water connects us all, and that what we drop in the environment can reach water bodies and put aquatic life, recreation, and even drinking water at risk. The Connecting the Drops effort includes educating motorists and boaters, as well as Authority/Corporation employees, that use the Thruway and Canal System.

EFC is a public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting environmental quality through a wide range of funding and technical assistance programs focused on protecting, improving and restoring New York State’s natural resources. EFC's largest programs are its highly successful Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which together have provided more than $11 billion in low-cost financing and grants for projects that provide New Yorkers with safe drinking water and help protect the quality of our precious water resources. EFC also administers the State’s Clean Vessel Assistance Program (CVAP), which was established to protect and improve water quality in New York's navigable waterways, including the canal system. CVAP provides grants to assist marinas, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations install pumpout and dump station facilities that receive sanitary waste from recreational marine vessels.

For information on the programs administered by EFC, please visit www.nysefc.org.

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.

A list of planned Clean Sweep events is attached and will be updated regularly on the Parks & Trails NY website at www.ptny.org and www.nyscanals.gov. To participate, or to verify dates, times and meeting locations of specific events, please contact the individual organizations listed.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the New York State Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

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Posted Tuesday April 15, 2008 at 02:54 pm by New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation