Canal Corp. says boats can dock in Syracuse Inner Harbor after dredging project

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Recreational boats can now travel through and dock in the Syracuse Inner Harbor after crews completed a $10.3 million dredging project.

The dredging has created a 7.5-foot depth in the Inner Harbor, which is part of the state canal system, the New York State Canal Corporation said in a news release. It once served as a “major” canal-maintenance facility and was also a hub for boat manufacturing.

“The Inner Harbor was an important part of Syracuse’s past and now it will be a vital component of its present and future,” Gil Quiniones, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority, said in the release. “Enabling boats to tie up in the harbor will further enhance its remarkable transformation and open the city to more boaters.”

NYPA is the parent agency of the state canal system.

The dredging was necessary because “tons” of silt and sand from Onondaga Creek goes into Onondaga Lake. That had reduced the depth in the Inner Harbor to as little as 2 feet, making it impassable for most vessels. The Canal Corporation will continue to dredge the Inner Harbor as needed to maintain proper depths.

 “The dredging project was a welcome investment in Syracuse by the state,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said. “Our lakefront is being transformed into a place to both live and have fun. This project will only encourage more people to come to the Inner Harbor.”

The New York State Thruway Authority, the former parent agency of the Canal Corporation, in 2012 completed the transfer of 34 acres around the Inner Harbor to the City of Syracuse for future development. That led to plans for a $350 million mixed-use development. Some apartments and a hotel have already opened, with office, retail space and restaurants still in the planning stages.

“The Inner Harbor neighborhood is experiencing a renaissance and the completion of the dredging is an important step in continuing its resurgence,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in the release. “We appreciate the Canal Corporation’s investment in this important piece of infrastructure so we as a community can capitalize on its economic potential.” 

Inner Harbor history

The Inner Harbor was created following the 1918 completion of the Barge Canal, now known as the New York State Canal System, as explained in the Canal Corp. release.

It uses rivers and lakes more than the manmade channels employed by older versions of the canals. The new waterway went north of Syracuse in contrast to the original canal, which ran through the heart of the city. To help Syracuse maintain a link to the canal, the state built a terminal at the southern end of Onondaga Lake and dug a channel that provided a connection to the canal from the lake.

The precursor to the Canal Corporation used the Inner Harbor as a maintenance and boat-building facility. Among the vessels built there was the tug “Syracuse,” which was launched in 1933 and is still in service today.

The Inner Harbor was used as a terminal for shipments of lumber, sand and soda ash. Once it became more efficient to ship those goods by rail, the Inner Harbor transitioned to become home to dozens of oil tanks. They were rendered obsolete by the installation of pipelines in the 1980s, which opened up the area to be redeveloped for recreation and other uses after the tanks were removed.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com