GL: Erie Canal restricted lockings

[fred]

The Canal Corp has announced that effective now, the eastern Erie Canal will
have restricted lockings.  This applies to Lock 7 through 20 on the Erie Canal
only.

Eastbounders will lock through only on the hour, and westbounders
will lock through on the half hour.

John Callaghan of the Canal Corp tells
me this is being done to save water, as there has been no real rain in the
Mohawk Valley this summer.  The effect will be to bunch up the boats thereby
reducing the number of total lockings, all of which spill about a zillion
gallons.  (Zillion is a technical term for 'a really lot').

Some town
reservoirs have fallen to near empty levels, etc and water shortages are
appearing.  I have personally seen rather low levels and some boats in shallow
marinas are being stranded.

The full notice is here:
http://www.nyscanals.gov/news/notices/2007/2007-09-17-lock-e7.html

Fred
Tug 44