Lake Erie Ice Boom

[scobar]

From what I understand ice coverage has to less that 250 sq miles or about 3-4 percent of the lake coverage before the boom is removed. I thought there was also a date that they have to start taking it out by, anyone know that date?...............just found this info, interesting

 

 

Lake Erie has an average depth of approximately 60 feet (18.2m) Lake Erie will during most winters freeze completely over creating 10,000 square miles (25,900 sq. km) of ice. The Niagara River is only 23 square miles (60 sq. km) and could not handle such a large volume of ice.

With or without the ice boom, only 2% of all ice from Lake Erie enters the Niagara River. The remainder (98%) of the ice pack melts in Lake Erie.

The ice boom does not prevent the ice in Lake Erie from melting any sooner or later. Studies have shown that the ice boom holding back the ice pack on Lake Erie has little effect on the daily weather in Buffalo, New York.

Each Spring, the International Niagara Board of Control determines the date when the ice boom is removed. The decision is based upon the amount of ice remaining in Lake Erie and the weather conditions. Normally, the ice boom has to be removed by April 1st of each year unless there is still more than 250 square miles (650 square kilometres) of ice in the eastern portion of Lake Erie. The earliest removal of the ice boom occurred on March 5th 1998 and the latest removal of the ice boom occurred on April 25th 1997.   

Edited March 15, 2014 by scobar

[GAMBLER]

From what I understand ice coverage has to less that 250 sq miles or about 3-4 percent of the lake coverage before the boom is removed. I thought there was also a date that they have to start taking it out by, anyone know that date?...............just found this info, interesting

 

 

Lake Erie has an average depth of approximately 60 feet (18.2m) Lake Erie will during most winters freeze completely over creating 10,000 square miles (25,900 sq. km) of ice. The Niagara River is only 23 square miles (60 sq. km) and could not handle such a large volume of ice.

With or without the ice boom, only 2% of all ice from Lake Erie enters the Niagara River. The remainder (98%) of the ice pack melts in Lake Erie.

The ice boom does not prevent the ice in Lake Erie from melting any sooner or later. Studies have shown that the ice boom holding back the ice pack on Lake Erie has little effect on the daily weather in Buffalo, New York.

Each Spring, the International Niagara Board of Control determines the date when the ice boom is removed. The decision is based upon the amount of ice remaining in Lake Erie and the weather conditions. Normally, the ice boom has to be removed by April 1st of each year unless there is still more than 250 square miles (650 square kilometres) of ice in the eastern portion of Lake Erie. The earliest removal of the ice boom occurred on March 5th 1998 and the latest removal of the ice boom occurred on April 25th 1997.   

The record might go down this year.  Lets hope we get some warmth so it comes out early to kick off the spring salmon season. 

Edited March 16, 2014 by GAMBLER

[baitrigger]

Add two weeks for ice to clear the lower river in years like this.

[jimski2]

This has been the biggest ice formation on Lake Erie in years. Another factor is surface ice area. After a strong southwest blow, the ice packs up to many feet deep and this will be a long year for cold Lake Erie waters to flow into Lake Ontario around the Canals and Niagara River.Watch the shoreline water temperatures for areas to start your spring season. Look for forty two degree waters to start your year. Be aware that thirty nine degree waters are on the bottom of the lake and they keep the fish there until the shore waters warm up.

[archman]

Could someone describe what this boom is? This is really my first year following this area.

Sent from my HTC One mini using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[GAMBLER]

It is a barrier placed across the mouth of the Niagara River that prevents large ice flows from entering the river. 

[momay4000]

Here's a video from the Buffalo News a few years back. I think someone posted this last year, but it's pretty cool and I learned a lot about the boom from watching this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27QVaRmuuA

[Legacy]

Here's a video from the Buffalo News a few years back. I think someone posted this last year, but it's pretty cool and I learned a lot about the boom from watching this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27QVaRmuuA