Welland Canal drained (2017) Views at Lock 7 and Lock 3

Views of the drained Welland Canal at Lock 7 and Lock 3, taken Jan 4, 2017, unless noted otherwise on some of the 'before/after' views. The portion of the canal above (south of) Lock 7 is not being drained; the portion from Lock 7 down to Lock 1 is being drained. The canal closes for the winter, and is usually dewatered to allow for maintenance and repair work to proceed, before reopening usually by mid March.
(Because the canal portion below Lock 1 is directly connected to the water level of Lake Ontario, it cannot be easily dewatered unless a cofferdam is specifically built. The same situation applies to the portion of the canal above Lock 8, seeing as it too is directly connected to Lake Erie. Also, the longest portion of the Welland Canal, the portion between Lock 7 and Lock 8 usually remains at its regular water level - I have never seen that area drained)
For more views of the canal drained at Lock 2 and at the Skyway, see: • Welland Canal drained ...
Music by Benjamin Tissot
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On or about May 27, 2020, some hack called 'Jonny Bruzzi' and 'TuneCore' made a fraudulent claim against the music on this site, music which belongs to composer Benjamin Tissot, and which is used here by the composer's permission. It looks like 'Bruzzi' took Tissot's music and has tried to copyright it as if it his own music, and is now trying to get money from other people who are legitimate users of Tissot's music. Tune Core should be charged with fraud for pushing such phony claims.
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On May 26 2021 Sony / Believe Music have harassed my site and attacked me for over a week now with over 22 false music claims, on a near daily basis. The music is owned by composer Benjamin Tissot. I am a legitimate user of his music, by permission from his site at bensound.com. Mr. Tissot is the real owner of the music which Believe /Sony are falsely claiming as their own, and falsely claiming compensation for.

[@johnm.evangelis693]

That's a big distance, great video RIN

[@TheBender0005]

Your videos are superb! Especially the ones in the winter when everything is dewatered.

[@RightInNiagara]

Thanks!

[@LindaTCornwall]

Wow look how deep that canal is! Also no supermarket trolleys dumped in that canal lol..

[@maddoxinc1642]

Wow, those dam gates are..... RIVETING!

[@nonovyerbusiness9517]

Wow. Original hand riveted construction. Just like the Titanic. ;)

[@razerxgaming5571]

went fishing here a few days ago where do the fish go when they drain the locks

[@RightInNiagara]

It depends on where exactly you were fishing. If it was below Lock 1, the canal portion there does not get drained. That portion is connected directly to Lake Ontario, so whatever fish are in Lake Ontario during the winter can access that portion.
Similarly, the portion above Lock 7 all the way to Lock 8 also does not normally get drained for the winter, so fish can be found there, but their access from Lake Erie is somewhat controlled by the existence of Lock 8. I see people setting up ice fishing huts below Lock 8 near Ramey's Bend during the winter.
The portion of the canal above Lock 8 is never drained, so whatever winter fish are in Lake Erie would have access to the canal portion above Lock 8.
For the areas between Lock 1 and Lock 7 the fish there either can head for the pondage areas for the winter, or I assume they get flushed down the spillways and can eventually reach the level below Lock 1. In the winter when portions are drained (they are not usually all drained at the same time) you can always see some fish laying on the canal bed that didn't make it.

[@razerxgaming5571]

@@RightInNiagara oh my gosh thank you so much

[@blipco5]

Looks pretty clean. When were these built?

[@RightInNiagara]

The first version of the Welland Canal (connecting Lake Ontario to Lake Erie) was opened in 1829; it has been rebuilt and reconfigured over the years - this is now the 4th version of the canal, which was opened in 1932.

[@billsmotrilla6215]

I would have expected to see a lot more zebra mussels. Perhaps the current through the canal is more than what they prefer.

[@RightInNiagara]

I have noticed this as well, for many years, that there was almost an absence of the zebra infestation in the canal. I expected the bottoms of the gates and walls, pier legs, etc, to be covered by them. Maybe someone can weigh in on this subject, i'd like to know!

[@daleolson3506]

What for?

[@RightInNiagara]

For winter maintenance.

[@scottmoore3113]

The canal and locks exist to allow shipping between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The canal runs parallel to and bypasses the Niagara River and the obviously unnavigatable Niagara Falls.
The canal (and entire St. Lawrence Seaway Systen) is closed in the winter, as the fresh water is susceptible to freezing, creating an unsafe hazard. Draining can then allow for maintenance and construction.

[@anthonyagnelneri4076]

THE USA CAN'T AFFORD LOCKS LIKE THIS WE FLY EVERYTHING

[@anthonymoser46]

Anthony Agnelneri there are more lock and dams then you think there is

[@bruced4077]

Us is a user of these locks fool

[@anthonyagnelneri4076]

Anthony Moser Thank you for info

[@anthonyagnelneri4076]

People I was being a little bit FACETIOUS

[@anthonyagnelneri4076]

Bruce D THE FOOL ON THE HILL??!