Niagara River ice boom installation scheduled to start Friday

The installation of the Niagara River ice boom is scheduled to start on Friday, to reduce the amount of ice entering the river.

Each winter since 1964, the Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom has been installed, says the International Niagara Board of Control in a release.

The organization says a reduction in ice entering the river decreases the potential for ice jams, which can result in damage to shoreline property.

Placement of the spans begins every winter on Dec. 16, or when the Lake Erie water temperature reaches four degrees Celsius at Buffalo, NY, says the Board of Control.

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The report states that the ownership and cost of maintaining and operating the ice boom is shared equally between New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG).

The ice boom will be installed at the outlet of Lake Erie, at the entrance to the Niagara River.

Severe storms could overwhelm the stability of the ice arch and force large accumulation of ice against the boom, says the Board of Control.

The system is designed to submerge overflow of ice and allows it to override until the pressure is relieved.

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