FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION KICKS-OFF START OF SUMMER
RECREATIONAL BOATING SEASON IN NEW YORK
Promotes Boater Safety in Recognition of National Safe Boating Week
May 20-26, 2006
The New York State Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello today kicked-off the traditional start of the summer recreational boating season in New York State and encouraged boaters to practice safe boating throughout the season and especially during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
“With great weather planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, the Canal Corporation is excited to kick-off the start of the 2006 summer boating season in New York,” Director Mantello said. “New York’s historic Canal System offers more than 524 miles of scenic waterways to explore and is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier boating destinations. Whether visiting the Canal during this Memorial Day weekend or at any other time throughout the navigation season, we urge all boaters to be aware of and practice safe boating procedures to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Director Mantello was joined at an event at the popular Al Cathy’s boat launch site in Waterford, Saratoga County by officials from the New York State Police, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation to promote National Safe Boating Week in New York State and highlight a number of safety programs and initiatives designed to protect boaters and the general public on New York’s waterways.
State Police Superintendent Wayne E. Bennett said, “Similar to the highway,
the two most effective ways to ensure safety on the water are by avoiding
impaired operation and by insisting that everyone on board wear proper safety
gear. Please ensure a safe boating season for your family and friends by wearing
life jackets or other personal floatation devices (PFDs) while on the water and
by not operating any vessel while impaired.”
State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro said, "We join with the Canal Corporation in celebrating the traditional start of the recreational boating season across the Empire State. Building on Governor Pataki's commitment to ensuring safe waters through education and enforcement, boaters from Long Island Sound to the Hudson River to the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes can experience this outdoor past-time enjoyed by so many New Yorkers and visitors. We encourage operators of all watercraft to take every precaution to develop and practice safe habits and to help make this boating season the safest ever.”
DEC Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan said, “Recreational boating is a wonderful way to admire many of New York State's scenic views and abundant natural resources. I encourage boaters to act responsibly and obey boat safety regulations as well as environmental laws. These important pollution prevention measures will help keep aquatic habitats healthy and our waterways beautiful for current and future generations to enjoy.”
Since 1995, Governor Pataki has signed legislation to require personal watercraft operator education, toughen boating-while-intoxicated laws, strengthen personal watercraft emission statutes, improve mandatory lifejacket wear requirements, increase the minimum age for youthful personal watercraft operation, and provide increased state financial assistance to localities for boating navigation enforcement.
In addition, New York State has one of the largest mandatory education programs for personal watercraft (PWC) in the country. There are approximately 50,000 PWCs registered in this state. Last year the Governor signed legislation prohibiting the operation by those under 14 years of age unless accompanied by someone over 18 years of age who also possesses a safety certificate.
State Parks’ Marine Services Unit is responsible for the general coordination of boating safety programs and marine law enforcement efforts across the state including patrols, training, and funding for local marine enforcement activities. The Marine Services Unit has developed a nationally recognized boating safety program that has educated over 100,000 boaters since the year 2000. New York ranks 7th nationally in the number of registered vessels, with more than 500,000 on its waterways.
In collaboration with State Parks, the State Police conduct a state-wide program entitled Loaner-For-Life, which provides temporary use of personal floatation devices (PFDs) for individuals found lacking required or appropriate life jackets during routine stops by marine law enforcement. The State Police also reward children under the age of 12 who travel the Canal System under the Personal Floatation Device – T-Shirt Program. Those children who are exhibiting safe behavior by wearing their life jacket are rewarded with an educational t-shirt.
For those recreational boaters choosing to travel on the NYS Canal System, the 2006 navigation season is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Recreational boating tolls have been waived for the 2006 season and more than 80 events and festivals are planned throughout the season to attract boaters and visitors of all ages. Hours of operation on the canal are currently 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. through September 15 and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 16-November 15.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
The Canal System offers hundreds of public and private boat launch sites and marinas for recreational boaters to utilize. With more than 70 marinas offering boater services and amenities such as transient and overnight dockage, utilities, fuel and pump-outs, the Canal System is well equipped with boater conveniences. Additional tie-ups, improved waterfront dockage, restrooms and picnic facilities are also available in many canal-side communities for boaters to dock and set out on land.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Erie Canal Greenway would incorporate a regional approach to land-use planning, tourism, recreational trail development and other collaborative initiatives while strengthening ties across the Canal Corridor and helping local communities enhance and protect their natural and cultural resources.
At the Governor’s direction, the Canal Corporation and an Interagency Task Force conducted an extensive outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations were made public and delivered in a report to the Governor in late December 2005.
Governor Pataki was instrumental in securing an additional $10 million in State funding for the Canal System in the 2006-2007 State Budget for creation of the Erie Canal Greenway program and new initiatives that will enhance recreation and tourism on the Canal. The funding will be used to complete the Canalway Trail on all four segments of the Canal System, establish a Water Trail for canoe and kayak access, construct community docking facilities, and other visitor amenities.
For more information about news and events along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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