System should be fully open by Sunday, except for Lock 10 on Mohawk River.

With waters from this month's heavy rains and floods receding, locks along three canals in Central New York reopened Friday.

All locks along the Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals are open, along with Lock 1 at the mouth of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Locks 23 to 25 along the Erie Canal also opened their doors.

The last remaining closure in the area - along the Seneca River west of Baldwinsville - was due to reopen this morning, said Jennifer Meicht, state Canal Corp. spokeswoman.

"We're getting back to normal," she said. "By Sunday, we expect the entire system to be fully open, except for Lock 10" along the Mohawk River.

Lock 24 in Baldwinsville only serviced eastbound boats Friday, because the Erie Canal westward to the Cayuga-Seneca junction remained closed due to submerged debris. This section includes the channel through Cross Lake.

That portion of the canal was due to reopen this morning, Meicht said.

"The water is receding faster than expected," she said.

Locks have been shut down two of the past three weeks as record rainfall and flooding inundated the eastern and central parts of the state.

In Baldwinsville, the manager of the newly opened The Red Mill Inn expressed excitement at the reopenings.

"Thank goodness," said Rebecca Beardsley. "All of our guests like to see the boats going through the locks. It's been a lot quieter. We're so glad they're going to be back."

She said some business comes from boaters on the canal - taking tours, dining and some spending the night.

"We're expecting business to pick up," she said.

Meicht said canal officials haven't written off this year as a disaster.

"We're still optimistic for the rest of the season into October," she said. "If Mother Nature cooperates, maybe we can pull out a good rest of the boating season."

She said officials will review the flooding to see if improvements can be made to the system.

"In a situation like this, there are always lessons that can be learned," she said. "We'll definitely be looking back at the lessons, the good and the bad. I think our folks did a fantastic job. This is a completely unprecedented event - in the height of the boating season. Hopefully, nothing like this ever happens again."