News from New York State Canal Corporation

For more information contact: Office of Public Affairs, 518-436-2983

Canal Corporation Announces Scheduled Lockings to Help Conserve Water

ALBANY, NY (09/17/2007; 1001)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that effective 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18, locks E-7 (Niskayuna, Schenectady County) through E-20 (Marcy, Oneida County) on the Erie Canal will be operated on a modified schedule for recreational vessels. The locks will open for eastbound traffic on the hour and westbound traffic on the half hour. Additionally, as originally scheduled, the Canal Corporation’s system wide fall hours began on Sunday, September 16 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This measure is necessary to conserve water, reducing the total amount of water necessary to continue Canal operations.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation stated, “In light of the lack of rainfall this summer in the Mohawk Valley, we are taking early, proactive steps to conserve water. We will continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure that the Canal remains open for navigation.”

These measures are contingent upon weather conditions and may be suspended if rainfall amounts return to normal.

For more information and the latest Canal conditions, contact 1-800-4CANAL-4 or visit the New York State Canal Corporation website at www.nyscanals.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 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/.

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