What feature primarily dictates vessel operations in the Burlington Canal?

The feature that primarily dictates vessel operations in the Burlington Canal is water depth. This is because the depth of the water determines whether vessels can safely navigate through the canal without running aground. Vessels have specific drafts, which is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull; therefore, if the water depth is insufficient, larger vessels may encounter problems that could lead to delays or unsafe conditions.

While other factors, such as weather conditions or construction activities, can impact operations within the canal, they are typically considered secondary to the fundamental requirement of having enough water depth for safe navigation. Checkpoints might be present for regulatory or safety monitoring, but they do not dictate the fundamental operational capacity of the vessels in the same way that water depth does.