In a recent NYPA publication, they made the following observation regarding the dam at Royalton.
The Canal Corporation has been monitoring three known seeps, or leaks, along this one- half mile rural stretch on the north side of the Erie Canal for more than 20 years. Due to dense vegetation that had grown on the outboard slope of the earthen embankment, the Canal Corporation’s maintenance staff were previously unable to fully inspect this location for additional seeps. In the spring of 2021, after clearing all three-inch or less in diameter vegetation, 14 additional seeps were uncovered.
On that assumption, and considering this is a fairly small dam in height, we should consider that there would be more leaks in the ones from Pittsford to Fairport. The brush growing there is extremely dense and the dams are twice as tall.
Imagine how many more leaks they'll find, it's really scary.
I'll predict fifty or more leaks will be found when they clear the junk from the slopes of the Great Oxbow Embankment Dam.