Champlain Canal

TheChamplain Canalis a 60-mile (97 km)canalinNew Yorkthat connects theHudson Riverto the south end ofLake Champlain.It was simultaneously constructed with theErie Canalfor use by commercial vessels, fully opening in 1823. Today, it is mostly used by recreational boaters as part of theNew York State Canal SystemandLakes to Locks Passage.

Champlain Canal
Lock C-12 inWhitehall, New York
Modern route of the Champlain Canal
Location	New York State
Country	United States
Coordinates	43°26′31″N73°26′48″W
Specifications
Lock length	328 feet (100 m)
Lock width	45 ft (14 m)
Maximumboat length	300 feet (91 m)
Maximumboat beam	43.5 feet (13.3 m)
Maximumboat draft	12 feet (3.7 m)
Locks	11
Status	Open (seasonal)
History
Date approved	1817
Date completed	September 10, 1823
Geography
Start point	Hudson River
End point	Lake Champlain
Branch of	New York State Canal System
Connects to	Erie Canal
Route map Richelieu River toSt. Lawrence River Canada United States Lake Champlain Vermont New York C12 Whitehall C11 Comstock C9 Smiths Basin C8 Town of Fort Edward C7 Village of Fort Edward Hudson River Crockers Reef Guard Gate C6 Fort Miller C5 Northumberland C4 Stillwater C3 Mechanicville C2 Halfmoon C1 Waterford Erie Canal toLake Erie Troy Federal Lock Hudson River toNew York Bay

Champlain Canal
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location	Rensselaer,Saratoga,andWashingtoncounties,New York, US;extends fromWaterfordthroughFort EdwardtoWhitehall
Built	1823
Architect	Wright, Benjamin; Jarvis, John B.
Architectural style	Transportation Canal
NRHP referenceNo.	76001274
Added to NRHP	September 1, 1976

Water for the highest portion comes from the Hudson River via theGlens Falls Feeder Canal,from above the drop atGlens Falls, New York.

History

An early proposal made in the 1790s byMarc Isambard Brunelfor a Hudson River–Lake Champlain canal was not approved. Another proposal for the canal was made in 1812 and construction authorized in 1817. By 1818, 12 miles (19 km) were completed, and in 1819 the canal was opened fromFort Edwardto Lake Champlain. The canal was officially opened on September 10, 1823.It was an immediate financial success, and carried substantial commercial traffic until the 1970s.

In 1903, New York authorized the expansion of the Champlain Canal—along with theErie,Oswego,andCayuga–Seneca Canals—into the "New York State Barge Canal."The project broke ground in 1905 and was completed in 1918.The "Barge Canal" name fell out of use in 1992.

The abandonedLake Champlain Seawayproposal would have upgraded the Champlain Canal into aship canal,easing marine transport betweenNew York CityandMontreal.

Perspective mapofMechanicvillefrom the late 19th century byL.R. Burleighshowing the Champlain Canal andHudson River

Route

Tug and barge on the Champlain Canal during the 1980s

The Champlain Canal's southern end is about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the locks at theTroy Federal Dam,at the point where theErie Canalsplits from theHudson River.The Hudson River is designated as part of the canal proceeding north for approximately 35 miles (56 km), with six locks providing navigation around dams, until it reaches lock C-7 inFort Edward, New York.At this point, the canal diverges from the river and follows a constructed channel for approximately 25 miles (40 km), with five additional locks, bringing the canal to the southern end ofLake ChamplainatWhitehall, New York.

The elevation on the Hudson River portion increases from 15 feet (4.6 m) above sea level at the southern end, on the northern end of the locks at the Troy Federal Dam, to about 130 feet (40 m) above sea level at lock C-7, where the canal leaves the Hudson River. The elevation of the constructed portion reaches a peak of 140 feet (43 m) above sea level between locks C-9 and C-11, then declines to the level of Lake Champlain, between 94 and 100 feet (29 and 30 m) above sea level, at Whitehall.By traveling the length of Lake Champlain, boaters can access theRichelieu RiverandChambly Canal,which connect Lake Champlain to theSaint Lawrence River.

Locks

Second-generation water supply locks known as "The Combines". They supply water from the Hudson River to the Champlain Canal via theGlens Falls Feeder Canalrunning fromGlens FallstoFort Edward.They were formerly also utilized as secondary locks to navigate from Glen's Falls to the Champlain Canal.

The following list oflocksis provided for the current canal, from south to north. There are a total of 11 locks on the Champlain Canal.

All locks on the New York State Canal System are single-chamber; the dimensions are 328 feet (100 m) long and 45 feet (14 m) wide with a minimum 12-foot (3.7 m) depth of water over themiter sillsat the upstream gates upon lift. They can accommodate a vessel up to 300 feet (91 m) long and 43.5 feet (13.3 m) wide.Overall sidewall height will vary by lock, ranging between 28 and 61 feet (8.5 and 18.6 m) depending on the lift and navigable stages.

There is no Lock C10 on the Champlain Canal. TheTroy Federal Lock,located just north ofTroy, New York,is not part of the New York State Canal System proper; it is operated by theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers.The Champlain Canal officially begins at the confluence of the Hudson andMohawkrivers atWaterford, New York.

Distance is based on position markers from an interactive canal map provided online by theNew York State Canal Corporationand may not exactly match specifications on signs posted along the canal. Mean surface elevations are comprised from a combination of older canal profiles and history books as well as specifications on signs posted along the canal.The margin of error should normally be within 6 inches (15 cm).

Lock No.	Location	Elevation (upstream/north)	Elevation (downstream/south)	Lift or Drop	Distance to Next Lock (upstream/north)	HAERNo.
Troy Federal Lock *	Troy	15.3 ft (4.7 m)	1.3 ft (0.40 m)	14.0 ft (4.3 m)	C1, 5.41 mi (8.71 km)
C1	Waterford	29.6 ft (9.0 m)	15.3 ft (4.7 m)	14.3 ft (4.4 m)	C2, 3.94 mi (6.34 km)	NY-348
C2	Halfmoon	48.1 ft (14.7 m)	29.6 ft (9.0 m)	18.5 ft (5.6 m)	C3, 2.55 mi (4.10 km)	NY-349
C3	Mechanicville	67.6 ft (20.6 m)	48.1 ft (14.7 m)	19.5 ft (5.9 m)	C4, 1.84 mi (2.96 km)	NY-351
C4	Stillwater	83.6 ft (25.5 m)	67.6 ft (20.6 m)	16.0 ft (4.9 m)	C5, 14.41 mi (23.19 km)	NY-352
C5	Northumberland	102.6 ft (31.3 m)	83.6 ft (25.5 m)	19.0 ft (5.8 m)	C6, 3.73 mi (6.00 km)	NY-354
C6	Fort Miller	119.1 ft (36.3 m)	102.6 ft (31.3 m)	16.5 ft (5.0 m)	C7, 7.13 mi (11.47 km)	NY-356
C7	Fort Edward	129.1 ft (39.3 m)	119.1 ft (36.3 m)	10.0 ft (3.0 m)	C8, 2.18 mi (3.51 km)	NY-358
C8	Fort Edward	140.1 ft (42.7 m)	129.1 ft (39.3 m)	11.0 ft (3.4 m)	C9, 5.83 mi (9.38 km)	NY-362
C9	Smiths Basin	124.1 ft (37.8 m)	140.1 ft (42.7 m)	−16.0 ft (−4.9 m)	C11, 9.24 mi (14.87 km)	NY-364
C11	Comstock	112.1 ft (34.2 m)	124.1 ft (37.8 m)	−12.0 ft (−3.7 m)	C12, 6.44 mi (10.36 km)	NY-365
C12	Whitehall	96.6 ft (29.4 m)	112.1 ft (34.2 m)	−15.5 ft (−4.7 m)	Lake Champlain	NY-367

All surface elevations are approximate.

*Denotes Federal managed locks.

Lake Champlain has a mean surface elevation ranging between 95 and 100 feet (29 and 30 m).

External links

• Information and Boater's Guide to the New York State Canal System
• History of the Canal System of the State of New York—Champlain Canal
• New York State Canals—Map of the Champlain Canal
• Champlain Canal Net—History and Photographs
• Historic Glens Falls Feeder Canal
• Historic American Buildings Survey(HABS) No. NY-6121, "Champlain and Hudson Canal"
• Historic American Engineering Record(HAER) documentation:
  • HAER No. NY-14, "Champlain Canal, Waterford Locks"
  • HAER No. NY-184, "Saunders Street Bridge, spanning Champlain Canal"(replaced)
  • HAER No. NY-235, "Champlain Canal, Wall"
  • HAER No. NY-368, "New York State Barge Canal, Champlain Canal"