Good Evening,
With the help of the rain and warmer temperatures, the Mackinaw, Samuel Risley, Bristol Bay, and Neah Bay continued flushing the ice currently plugging up the St. Clair River. Though three vessels were successfully escorted through the river today, limited results were achieved in flushing the ice due to the southerly winds pushing the ice back up the channel. Additionally, as the ice flows down the river, it gets into tighter areas and can make the flushing more difficult in the long run. The latest reports indicating that the thickest brash ice is around Willow Point, reaching from one to five feet in places. We will continue to monitor water levels in the river and lake to avoid potential flooding situations due to this ice jam.
We will not be breaking into the North Channel tomorrow. However, temperatures are expected to drop in the coming days, which may significantly slow the flow of ice down the river and create a potential flooding situation. We will reassess the conditions tomorrow and make a determination as to whether to break the North Channel on Thursday.
We will continue to update you on changing conditions, and should the need arise we will give you advanced notice via this blog, 911 alerts, and press statements of our intentions. Again, we appreciate everyone’s patience during this busy operation.
5 comments:
Please use logical discretion when planning this event. Saturday is a big day for my family and friends from out of town who will be attending a memorial for my mother at St. Marks church and the Lions Hall for a brunch in honor of her life. I emphathize with people upriver but a day will not make that big of a difference if a good ice bridge is created. A Thursday clearing sounds like a jam on Saturday to me.
Could you please explain why, when your efforts at breaking ice in the south channel have been unsuccessful, it is necessary to come in the north channel? The north channel is very shallow at its outlet. There is nowhere for the ice to go. This will serve no purpose except to inconvenience >1500 people on the island. Please help us understand. K
The quote below is taken from the Jan. 5 Voice news paper. Please explain the information and where we can gain details of the exact flooding locations up river. "The Coast Guard has no mandate, nor do they have a desire, to work ice in the North Channel unless they are specifically requested to do so by a governmental entity or by the ferry operator," Miller said.
I read the article and we understand that it is not you personally that wants to break up the North Channel, I do have a couple of questions that I do not have answers to. Is the level of the water really day to day, or is it the fear of no freighters running through the south channel that has the govnt. scared? Is the water in the lake frozen? If so where is the ice from breaking up the North Channel going to go? Why is the ice in the Middle Channel not considered first before disrupting the North? I don't mean to sound like I am attacking and I am trying not to ask stupid questions, I really just don't know the answers. I have only lived here for 11 years, the first 7 were great, why all of a sudden we are getting interupted service now is questionable to me. Thank you for the updates they are so very helpful and thank you for your time.
Saturday is a very important day on the island for the family and friends of a long time resident of the island.I ask if you could in any way refrain breaking the north channel ice bridge to the island.There is many friends and family that will be attending Fran D Angelos memorial mass on saturday.Please take this into consideration whan making your mind up to shut the islands only way to get there for many friends and family to attend.SOON TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE ISLAND MYSELF.
Post a Comment