The Western Erie Canal Heritage Corridor is part of the New York State Heritage Area System. It consists of the counties of Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Niagara and Erie and all the municipalities therein, along with a 136-mile section of the canal. This heritage corridor was established by legislation in 1999. At the same time, a planning commission was established and charged with creating a management plan for the heritage corridor. In May 2004, the planning commission completed this management plan after a five-year, inclusive community planning process. It obtained the approval of the five heritage corridor county legislatures and in June 2005 presented the plan to OPRHP Commissioner Bernadetter Castro for her review. The Management Plan was approved by the Commissioner on August 31, 2005.

In March 2006, the Western Erie Canal Alliance was formed as a non-profit corporation to implement the management plan.  The Alliance maintains an office at the Landmark Society of Western New York headquarters in Rochester.