Waterway restoration

Locks three and five have been restored, water levels in the connecting lakes have been stabilized and a visitor center opened.

The ten-year business plan[1] for 2007-2016 aims to save four more locks and rebuild four water control structures to make the route open for small boats from Lake Banook to the village of Shubenacadie.

The refurbished Ämmäkoski lock was re-opened in 1984, but the Koivukoski canal has been totally dismantled and the site now houses a hydroelectric power plant.

As the leisure industry grew, the economic benefits of having a canal became more apparent and some state funding started to appear.

At the present time, canal restoration in the UK is carried out by a mixture of volunteers and professionals working on a large variety of projects.