NOTICE TO MARINERS – 2020 CANAL SEASON OPENING SCHEDULE http://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/notices/ntm.aspx?id=1460 The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that much of the 524-mile Canal system will open for through navigation of the locks by July 4, 2020 as maintenance and construction projects are set to resume on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan. Canal Corporation crews and contractors will mobilize to work sites in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions as those areas reopen. Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific Canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage in a staggered fashion. Announcements regarding specific lock or regional openings will be communicated through the Canal Corporation’s “Notice to Mariners” notification program available at www.canals.ny.gov. OPENING SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE) Capital Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall Mohawk Valley Region – Locks opening in phases, targeted for between July 4th & August 10th Erie Canal Lock E-10 in Cranesville through Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake Central NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th Erie Canal from Oneida Lake to Lock E-25 in May’s Point Oswego Canal – except Lock O-7 in Oswego Finger Lakes Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th Erie Canal from Lock E-25 in May’s Point to Locks E-34/35 in Lockport – except Lock E-26 in Clyde Cayuga – Seneca Canal – except Locks CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls Western NY Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda As maintenance and construction work commences, most boaters, paddlers, and anglers can access sections of the Canal system for recreational use today. Mariners are advised that some sections of the Canal system will have reduced water levels until such time as the Canal Corporation completes its projects. In addition, navigation aids are not currently in place, but will be installed on the Canal system as the regions open. All users of the Canal system and adjacent Empire State Trail are encouraged to practice social distancing while using boat launches, trails and other public resources.
I started another thread on the canal opening but there was a notice this afternoon: The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that much of the 524-mile Canal system will open for through navigation of the locks by July 4, 2020 as maintenance and construction projects are set to resume on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan. Full notice: http://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/notices/ntm.aspx?id=1460
Still a whole lot of TBD and targeting between July 4 and August 10. Nothing that gives any perspective into when one might actually transit the canal from an entrance to an exit.
I'm just going ahead and planning on running the West Coast of Florida and up the River System to Chicago and hopefully will be bringing boats back via the Erie in the fall.