Just got a whole bunch of emails .... so here is a clarification: "open lower gates" means the entire dam will be lifted and folded away out of harm's way and the river allowed to run free and natural. It means the canal will be empty for a day or two. It looks like this: http://www.tug44.org/erie.canal/lock-11/images/lock11-9.jpg It all depends on rainfall between now and noon tomorrow. Fred Tug 44