The New York State Canal Corp. said it will officially close the state canal system's navigation season at 5 p.m. Saturday. It will re-open in the spring.

So far this year, recreational, commercial and tour vessels have passed through canal locks 113,368 times. That's down 21.7 percent from 144,743 "lockings" last year.

Officials with the state Canal Corporation say the decline is mostly due to fewer recreational boaters, who make up the bulk of canal users. At the same time, they say the number of commercial shipments rose to 58, from just 17 last year.

State canal director Carmella Mantello says offseason maintenance and construction work on the canals also is being scaled back this year because the agency's typical $30 million capital budget has been trimmed to $20 million.

But while the canal itself is closed, plenty of events are planned in communities along the canal corridor. The Canal Corp. has put together a winter calendar that can be obtained at www.nyscanals.gov or by calling 1-800-4CANAL-4.