Feb 13, 2022
- ACT NOW / Let Your Voice Be Heard! -
Please join your canal colleagues in a letter-writing campaign to impress upon the New York Power Authority the need to change the 2022 Canal Navigation Season opening date from the announced date of Friday, May 20 to May 11.
Studies show the overall economic impact of New York's canals is estimated at over $1.3 billion. Under the management of the NY Thruway Authority, the canal's operating season was an average of 200 days. Since NYPA has begun operating the canals, the average “full" season has been reduced to 150 days.
Of paramount concern was the January, 2021 announcement by NYPA that the 2021 canal season would not begin until May 31 and would end September 6 – only 100 days! This would have resulted in the shortest planned navigation season in the 200-year operational history of New York's canals.
Should the navigation season not commence until May 20 and if the season ends on October 12, the 2022 Canal navigation season would entail only 146 days. A 146-day season:
- Deprives canal communities and the hundreds of businesses and thousands of seasonal workers who depend on an active waterway of precious days that are needed to survive in today's challenging economy.
- Deters boaters traveling the Great Loop from using the NYS Canal System. Loopers are an economically significant customer group for our canal communities and attractions, including restaurants and overnight accommodations.
In addition to the need to support commercial operators and recreational boaters whose operations rely on thru navigation on the New York State Canal System, a 200-day Canal navigation season supports dozens of educational and interpretive organizations located along the Canalway with the opportunity to offer programs to user groups as diverse as student groups and senior travelers.
Please ACT NOW and uge the Canal Corporation to Change the 2022 Canal Season Opening Date to the earlier date of May 11.
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Thank you for making your voice heard!
Rachele Markle