The Erie Canal, which aimed to provide a direct waterway across upper New York State, garnered a lot of attention from citizens due to its impressive engineering and scale. In particular, the Irondequoit Creek Valley exemplified the environmental lengths at which engineers were willing to go in order to increase profits. This valley initially stood in the way of a convenient water route west. If the canal could not be passed across the valley, it would have to be re-routed across Lake Ontario. However, where many saw a roadblock, engineer James Geddes saw a challenge.