Weeks of repairs on the Erie Canal in the Capital Region are in jeopardy after rain hit the Mohawk Valley Region on Thursday night.
“We were planned for an 8 a.m. opening today, but mother nature dealt us another blow,” said state Thruway Authority spokesman Shane Mahar. The Erie Canal from Lock 8 in Scotia through Lock 15 in Fort Plain have been closed since heavy storms two weeks ago caused significant damage to the moveable dam system.
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This afternoon, Mahar said their was some flooding of the Erie Canal in Montgomery County and that state employees were monitoring the situation and tracking boats in the canal.
Mariners were advised this morning that the Erie Canal between Lock 2 in Waterford and Lock 22 in New London were closed to navigation. Any mariners seeking safe harbor were allowed to take advantage of mooring in the Waterford Flight.
Based on a revised forecast this morning from the National Weather Service the state was able to begin lifting the dams at locks 8 through 15. “We’ve got staff working on them,” said Mahar, adding that most locks from Eastern Montgomery County to Schenectady County were up by 1 p.m.
The potential danger from flooding is far from over, according to an alert around 12:30 p.m. from the National Weather Service.
A flood warning has been issued until 6:15 p.m. for the Mohawk Valley, including the western part of Fulton County and the western part of Montgomery County.
UPDATE, 3:45 p.m.: The Erie Canalway Trail between Oneida County and Canajoharie has been closed due to damage caused by flooding. Opening up the trail will depend on field evaluations that will be conducted as water levels recede.
Follow @dgazette on Twitter for more flooding coverage.
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