By Eve Wackett

Captain John Freidhoff from the Buffalo State Great Lakes Research Center has been called up to active duty for the U.S. Coast Guard. Before he left, he witnessed the ice boom break apart. Freidhoff said he contacted the people who needed to know; he appeared on WIVB TV telling news reporters about the damage large ice chunks can do to water intakes and property. He said the 40 –60 mph winds forced the yellow buoys to crush the chains and bust apart the ice boom last week.

The 8,800-foot ice boom spans the outlet of Lake Erie. Its main purpose is to protect the water intakes and property along the Niagara River. The ice boom consists of 22 spans made up of steel pontoons and barrels anchored to the river bed and connected together by steel cable.

Richard Griffith from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said, “The latest report was that only 9 of the 22 spans were left intact. Two were repaired last Friday, and work will continue as weather permits to complete repairs to the remaining 11 spans.”

Usually, when high wind forces the ice against the ice boom it gives way allowing some ice chunks to flow by. When too much ice is allowed through it can block water intakes resulting in loss of power production and may also cause home water service to be slow.

The International Joint Commission authorized the U.S. and Canadian power authorities to begin using the ice boom in 1964 and have kept records of its use since. These reports can be accessed at the IJC Website.

Links:

International Joint Commission

New York Power Authority (1)

New York Power Authority (2)

International Niagara Board of Control

USACE, Buffalo District

USACE, Detroit District

Great Lakes Information Network

Our Great Lakes