Ice Jam History, Ice Jam Mitigation Ice Jam History, Ice Jam Mitigation Training and Ice Mitigation Efforts Training and Ice Mitigation Efforts

in WFO Albany’s Hydrologic in WFO Albany’s Hydrologic Service Area (HSA)Service Area (HSA)

NROW 11, Session DNROW 11, Session D

John S. QuinlanJohn S. Quinlan

NWS Albany, NYNWS Albany, NY

(Source: NWS, USA Today)(Source: NWS, USA Today)

How Ice Jams FormHow Ice Jams Form

Most Likely Locations for Ice Jams Most Likely Locations for Ice Jams is Where the River’s Transport is Where the River’s Transport

Capacity is ExceededCapacity is Exceeded• Obstructions in the Channel – Islands, Locks,

Bridge Piers, Docks

• Changes in the Channel – Narrowing of the Channel, Bends, Gorges, Intact Ice Cover

• Change in the Channel Depth – Deep water to Shallow water

• Merger of River Channels

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Economic Impacts - Ice JamsEconomic Impacts - Ice Jams• Damage Totals Approximately $125 Million

Annually

• Interference with Navigation

• Reduced Hydropower Production

• Channel Erosion and Damage to Channel Training Structures

• Other Costs - Fish, Wildlife and Their Habitat

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Ice Jams In The U.S.Ice Jams In The U.S. 1780-Present 1780-Present

USA-CRREL Ice Jam DatabaseUSA-CRREL Ice Jam DatabaseIce Jam Events Ranking by StateIce Jam Events Ranking by State

1. Montana 14892. New York 14673. Minnesota 11674. Wisconsin 11305. Pennsylvania11246. Alaska 11107. North Dakota10488. South Dakota 10399. Nebraska 102210. Vermont 86611. Illinois 801

12.Maine 69113.New Hampshire 61514.Ohio 54115.Michigan 40616.Wyoming 30517. Idaho 28418. Iowa 25119.Massachusetts 21920.Missouri 21821.Colorado 20922.Connecticut 197

Of the 1467 Ice Jams in New York - 3 occurred in November, 89 Of the 1467 Ice Jams in New York - 3 occurred in November, 89 in December, 478 in January, 421 in February, 482 in March, in December, 478 in January, 421 in February, 482 in March,

and 64 in April.and 64 in April.

ALY Worst Ice Jam LocationsALY Worst Ice Jam Locations• Hudson River – North Creek to Hadley• Moose River – McKeever and Lyonsdale• Sacandaga River – above Lake Algonquin & Hope to Northville• Hoosic River – Hoosick Falls to Buskirk• Battenkill – Arlington to Battenville• Mohawk River – Herkimer to Little Falls, Fort Plain, Tribes Hill, Rotterdam,

Schenectady, Rexford, Vischer Ferry, Crescent• East Canada Creek, West Canada Creek, Fulmer Creek, Moyer Creek,

Steele Creek, Caroga Creek, Otsquago Creek, Canajoharie Creek, Alplaus Kill

• Schoharie Creek – Lexington to Prattsville, Middleburgh to Lost Valley• Rondout Creek – Accord, Kerhonkson, Eddyville• Wappingers Creek – especially Shady Brook Trailer Park• Roeliff Jansen Kill, Kinderhook Creek, Poestenkill Creek• Housatonic River – Falls Village to Kent, New Milford• Farmington River – Otis to New Boston• Saxtons River – Saxtons River• Williams River - Rockingham

Number of Ice Jams on the Number of Ice Jams on the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers Housatonic and Farmington Rivers

and Tributaries 1902-Presentand Tributaries 1902-Present• W B Farmington Rvr 30

• Housatonic River 27

• Leadmine Brook 12

• Still River 10

• Shepaug River 07

• Tenmile River 07

• Farmington River 06

• Green River 05

• Naugatuck River 05

• Blackberry River 04

• Roaring Brook 04

• Salmon Creek 03• Guinea Brook 01• Kettle Brook 01 • Nepaug River 01• Nonewaug River 01• Pomperaug River 01• Wachocastinook Cr 01• West Aspetuck Rvr 01

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Number of Ice Jams on the Number of Ice Jams on the Mohawk and Moose Rivers and Mohawk and Moose Rivers and their Tributaries 1914-Presenttheir Tributaries 1914-Present

• Mohawk River 50• Schoharie Creek 49• Middle Br. Moose Rvr 19• Moose River 15• Platter Kill 11• West Canada Creek 10• East Canada Creek 08• Otsquago Creek 07• Fulmer Creek 05

• Steele Creek 03• Caroga Creek

02• Mine Kill 02 • West Kill 02• Bridenbecker Creek 01• Moyer Creek 01• Nowadaga Creek 01• Panther Lake Outlet 01• Saquoit Creek 01

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Number of Ice Jams on the Upper Number of Ice Jams on the Upper Hudson River and TributariesHudson River and Tributaries

1867-Present 1867-Present• Hudson River 36• Hoosic River 20• Sacandaga River

20• Batten Kill 19• Poesten Kill 10• Kayaderosseras Cr 08• Northwest Bay Brook 08• Moordener Kill 07 • Kennyetto Creek

05

• Little Hoosic River 05• Cedar River 02• E. Branch Sacandaga 02• English Brook 02• Glowegee Creek 02• West Stony Creek 02• East Stony Creek 01• Normans Kill

01• Schroon River 01

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Mohawk River – Lock 12Mohawk River – Lock 12Fort Hunter, NY - February 13, 2009Fort Hunter, NY - February 13, 2009

Ice Jam Mitigation Ice Jam Mitigation

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Sloped Block Ice Control Hydroseeding

Clam Shell Wrecking Ball

Ice Jam Training and Mitigation Ice Jam Training and Mitigation Workshops 2009Workshops 2009

• 2/9/2009 Washington Volunteer Fire Department Washington, CT Attendance: 19

• 2/25/2009 Montgomery County EMO Fonda, NY Attendance: 35

• 3/3/2009 Warren County Sheriffs Office Lake George, NY Attendance: 17

Thermal Breakup vs. Mechanical Thermal Breakup vs. Mechanical BreakupBreakup

• Ice Cover Melts in Place• Direct Sunlight Plays a

Large Role• Surface Color Influences

Sunlight Absorption, Dusting

• Water on Ice Decreases Reflection, May Promote Melting

• Open Water Areas Absorb Sunlight

• Hydrodynamic Forces Acting on Ice Cover Exceed Cover Strength

• Results from an Increase in Flow

• Precipitation Event• Snowmelt Event• Dam Operation

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Attempts To Control The Ice Attempts To Control The Ice Regime To Lessen The Impacts Regime To Lessen The Impacts

Of Ice Related Problems Include: Of Ice Related Problems Include:

• Fixed Structures – Tension Weir, Sloped Block Ice Control

• Ice Booms• Channel Modification• Dusting, Hole Drilling• Mechanical Weakening

Mechanical WeakeningMechanical Weakening

• Immediate Strength Reduction.

• Four Most Common Methods: Excavation - Bulldozer, Clam Shell Blasting - Dynamite, Aerial Ice Cutting - Trencher, Ice Saw Ice Breaking - Amphibious Excavator, Vessels, Wrecking Ball

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Fulmer Creek Ice Jam FloodFulmer Creek Ice Jam FloodFebruary 21, 1994February 21, 1994

• 6 Block Area on West Side of Mohawk, NY Flooded

• 40 Homes Evacuated

• Water Depth Reached 6 Feet in Places

• Numerous Cars Completely Submerged

Fulmer Creek Ice Jam 3/3/04Fulmer Creek Ice Jam 3/3/04Mitigation Training Herkimer, NY Mitigation Training Herkimer, NY

Fulmer Creek Above 5S BridgeFulmer Creek Above 5S Bridge

Fulmer Creek Below 5S BridgeFulmer Creek Below 5S Bridge

Fulmer Creek Under 5S BridgeFulmer Creek Under 5S Bridge

Fulmer Creek Below Main St. Fulmer Creek Below Main St. BridgeBridge

Fulmer Creek Above Main St. Fulmer Creek Above Main St. BridgeBridge

Crane on 5S BridgeCrane on 5S Bridge

Wrecking Ball Breaking IceWrecking Ball Breaking Ice

Bridenbecker Creek 02/12/09Bridenbecker Creek 02/12/09Herkimer CountyHerkimer County

(Video: WKTV Utica, NY)(Video: WKTV Utica, NY)

Nowadaga Creek 03/07/09Nowadaga Creek 03/07/09Herkimer CountyHerkimer County

(Source: CRREL)(Source: CRREL)

Ice BreakingIce Breaking

Ice covers can be broken prior to natural Ice covers can be broken prior to natural breakup using ice breaking vessels or breakup using ice breaking vessels or construction equipment. Downstream construction equipment. Downstream movement of the broken ice should be movement of the broken ice should be

enhanced to prevent localized breakup ice enhanced to prevent localized breakup ice jams. Ice breaking is particularly useful to jams. Ice breaking is particularly useful to ease navigation in larger rivers and lakes.ease navigation in larger rivers and lakes.

Video of Amphibex on Nechako Video of Amphibex on Nechako River in British ColumbiaRiver in British Columbia

(Source: Prince George Citizen)(Source: Prince George Citizen)

The Amphibex story, in my mind, is all about modern-day technology working with Mother Nature to create what is now a long, open channel that gives the water some place to go, and the water level has dropped substantially, " he said. "So the little green grass hopper was able to

work only nine days, but you know what, it did a great job."

Quote from Prince George Citizen 1/29/08

A Dangerous Ice Jam Mitigation A Dangerous Ice Jam Mitigation Activity!Activity!

(Source: CRREL and NBC2 News)(Source: CRREL and NBC2 News)

ConclusionsConclusions

• Ice Jam Training and Mitigation Workshops have had Some Success Mainly with Excavation Methods (Bulldozer, Clam Shell)

• Other Methods Need to be Utilized Including Sloped Block Ice Control Structures in Non-Navigable Bodies of Water as well as Hydroseeding and Ice Breaking on Larger Bodies of Water

Questions? and/or Comments! Questions? and/or Comments!