‘Gradual removal’ of ice boom to begin soon

Work will soon begin to remove the Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom, which has had a rough winter on the water.

A news release from the International Joint Commission (IJC)’s board of control, a group that consults with power authorities on both sides of the border on issues related to the span that blocks ice from entering the river, said preparations for its removal are being made.

New York Power Authority (NYPA) will begin removal as soon as ice conditions and safe working conditions allow.

Due to heavy buildup of ice in the lower Niagara River and persistent thick ice conditions at the boom, a “gradual removal of the boom will be undertaken,” reads the release.

This will control the release of the thick ice remaining behind the boom to avoid ice jams in the Niagara River.

Crews have not been able to access parts of the ice boom this winter due to much of it being encased in heavy ice.

The ice conditions also resulted in damage to the boom over the winter, with several spans of the boom trailing, and ice is gradually releasing at these openings.

For about two weeks, Fort Erie residents have witnessed large chunks of ice floating down the river.

“As ice gradually clears, NYPA will gradually open spans as safe working conditions allow and in a controlled manner to allow the ice to clear from the Niagara River without jamming,” reads the release.

The latest ice boom opening on record was May 3, 1971. The earliest start date was February 28, 2012.

It is required that all floating sections of the boom be opened by the first day of April, unless there are more than 650 square kilometres of ice on eastern Lake Erie.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe