Syracuse, NY – The Oswego Canal and the Erie Canal east of the Oneida County hamlet of New London will remain closed as least through today as workers contend with the aftermath of Sunday’s heavy rain, Canal Corp. Director Carmella Mantello said. But conditions caused by the deluge pose hazards to boaters even in sections that remain open, Mantello...
Logs float in the Oneida River in Caughdenoy as high water from Sunday's heavy rain works through the Erie Canal system. The Erie Canal east of New London and the entire Oswego Canal remain closed through the day and canal officials are warning boaters to use caution in portions of the system that remain open.Syracuse, NY – The Oswego Canal and the Erie Canal east of the Oneida County hamlet of New London will remain closed as least through today as workers contend with the aftermath of Sunday’s heavy rain, Canal Corp. Director Carmella Mantello said.
But conditions caused by the deluge pose hazards to boaters even in sections that remain open, Mantello said.
“Folks do need to take any and all precautions. Quite frankly, if they can not boat today it’s probably the best idea,” she said.
The high water levels and heavy water flows are starting to recede, Mantello said.
But workers now must replace gates in movable dams that were opened to cope with the surge, she said. Also, she said, the rain flushed trees, branches and other debris into the canals that workers now are clearing away and swept bouys out of their stations that now have to be put back in place.
“We are reassessing it every hour on the hour,” Mantello said. “We’re hopeful that the Oswego, we may be able to open it tomorrow. The Erie it’s looking more like Thursday or late afternoon tomorrow. It’s all going to depend on how much our crews can get done over the next 24 hours.”