Reimagine the Canals
Reimagine the New York State Canal System for Economic and Recreational Benefit
The New York State Canal System is a marvel of engineering that spans more than 500 miles across Upstate New York. It was a key economic driver for the state, opening a direct trade route to the Midwest at a time when the Mississippi River was the most viable alternative. It is a storied part of our history and was a revolutionary piece of transportation infrastructure.
While the canals have not been a major shipping channel in half a century, they remain impressive working assets that are beloved by surrounding communities, creating the opportunity to Reimagine the Canals for greater public benefit.
Our Reimagine the Canals initiative has five high-level goals:
- Resilience – Utilize Canal infrastructure to mitigate summer flooding and eliminate ice jams in the Mohawk Valley
- Regeneration – Adaptively reuse infrastructure and surplus land to improve quality of life in communities bordering the waterway
- Restoration – Manage the waterway to restore the natural environment for people and wildlife, rebalancing a highly compromised ecosystem
- Reuse – Use water no longer needed for large ships to support new uses such as agriculture and recreational fi shing, and further bolster water- and trail-based recreation and tourism
- Retrofit – Identify opportunities to drive operational improvement that will reduce ongoing operations and maintenance costs and generate revenue
To achieve these outcomes and revitalize the canals, NYPA has embarked on a four-part strategy:
- Emphasize and demonstrate the new recreational and economic value of the canals by investing in projects that produce tangible civic benefits and operating efficiency
- Work with technical and regional stakeholders to ensure local engagement
- Source new capital from a broader set of public and private investors
- Drive the most efficient ways of working within NYPA and the New York State Canal Corporation through a refined operating model