The New York State Canal Corporation announced this weekend the state canal system will open for boating season four days earlier than originally planned, 7 a.m., Wed., Apr. 27. All other dates and hours for the 2016 navigation season remain the same. The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York. The 525-mile system is made up of the Erie, the Oswego, the Cayuga-Seneca and the Champlain canals. Information is available at canals [dot] NY [dot] gov.