The New York Power Authority (NYPA) invites you to join us for a virtual presentation regarding the Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) for a Watercourse Developer Project. The presentation will be held on October 12, 2022, at 2PM EST. NYPA invites developers, operators, and maintenance professionals to propose the further development of a water recreation destination at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Central New York, utilizing existing canal infrastructure.
This project, as originally conceived, proposes to develop a water recreation destination at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Central New York, utilizing existing canal infrastructure that was built in 1918. The Cayuga Watercourse is the first project under the Reimagine the Canals initiative to demonstrate the potential of expanding water recreation on the canals by adaptively utilizing existing canal infrastructure. Alternate designs for this project will also be considered.
To review the entire Cayuga Watercourse solicitation to include the feasibility study, technical report, and additional renderings, proposers are hereby directed to NYPA’s website (www.nypa.gov). Registration with the NYPA Ariba platform will allow suppliers to submit their responses to the solicitation.
If you are interested in attending the virtual presentation, kindly register below.
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Online ZOOM Event: Register Here.
Reimagine the Canals
In September 2017, a global ideas competition was launched to Reimagine the New York State Canal System. It garnered 145 entries from nine states and seven countries. In May 2019, a 31-person gubernatorial Task Force was formed to further develop many of the ideas from the Reimagine the Canals competition. Its findings were released in the Task Force Report on January 6, 2020, and its recommendations were subsequently included in the Governor’s 2020 State of the State address.
Since that time, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has approved $300 million for phased investments for the Reimagine the Canals initiative to pursue Task Force recommendations relating to resilience and economic development.
Basis of Project and Vision
This project, as originally conceived, proposes to develop a world-class water recreation destination at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Central New York, utilizing existing canal infrastructure that was built in 1918. The Cayuga Watercourse is the first project under the Reimagine the Canals initiative to demonstrate the potential of expanding water recreation on the canals by adaptively utilizing existing canal infrastructure.
The Watercourse takes advantage of the site’s existing hydrology and the large volume of water stored in Cayuga Lake, employing the existing tainter gate dam structure to regulate water flows, as appropriate, for new in-water activities.
The Finger Lakes region is already host to a robust tourism industry owing to the remarkable growth of wineries, craft breweries, and distilleries over the last few decades as well as its unique ecological assets, including the lakes, waterfalls, parks, and the sprawling complex of wetlands. The vision for the Cayuga Watercourse project builds on that base of tourism by providing unique and additional opportunities for recreation on the water itself – paddling, surfing, kayaking – and by the water’s edge – picnicking and fishing. The Watercourse will form the core of the draw and experience, with a targeted series of supporting elements to create a full and complete recreational experience for a wide variety of users.
Submittals
Interested developers are encouraged to respond to this RFEI by submitting a letter of interest, which may include but is not limited to relevant experience, qualifications, business references, concept ideas, and potential contractual models to be considered for the subsequent RFP solicitation. No awards or contracts are being offered or will be made from this RFEI. Submissions will be accepted through November 30, 2022.