Lake Erie - Niagara River Ice Boom to be Removed 2021
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – Preparations are underway for the removal of the Lake Erie – Niagara River Ice Boom.
Lake Erie’s ice cover has rapidly reduced over the past few days. On March 15, 2021 the water temperature near the ice boom was 0.6°C (33°F). Considering the lack of ice cover on Lake Erie and the absence of ice in the Maid-of-the-Mist Pool below Niagara Falls, preparations are underway for the removal of the Lake Erie – Niagara River Ice Boom.
If weather allows for safe working conditions, crews from the New York Power Authority will begin opening the boom’s 22 spans on Thursday March 18, 2021. Additional information may be found on the Board’s web site at: https://www.ijc.org/en/nbc/watershed/ice-boom. Last year, the boom opening began on March 2. The latest date for the start of the boom opening was May 3, 1971, while the earliest start date was February 28, 2012.
The ice boom is owned and operated by the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation. The use of the boom is authorized by the International Joint Commission with its International Niagara Board of Control overseeing the installation, operation and removal.
Each winter since 1964, the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom has been installed near the outlet of Lake Erie to reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River. A reduction of ice entering the river reduces the potential for ice jams, which can result in damage to shoreline property and significantly reduce water flow for hydro-electric power production.
For more information on Ice Boom installation, operation and removal contact Louis Paonessa, NYPA at (716) 548-2141
For more information regarding the IJC approval
See the Board’s Ice Boom Information website at https://www.ijc.org/en/nbc/watershed/ice-boom
or
In Canada contact Derrick Beach, Canadian Secretary, International Niagara Board of Control at Derrick.Beach@canada.ca
In USA contact Lauren Schifferle, Alternate Chair to the International Niagara Working Committee at Lauren.M.Schifferle@usace.army.mil