INITIAL 2000 SUMMARY

This is the first of a series of summary reports of ice conditions on the Lower Platte River system. The Lower Platte River system encompasses the Loup, Elkhorn, and Platte Rivers in north-central and eastern Nebraska.

This summary is developed by the Response Section of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) based upon voluntary reports received from local, trained observers. Approximately 30 sites are observed during ice formation months.

The observers represent:

Cass County Emergency Management

Colfax County Emergency Management

Lower Platte North Natural Resources District

Lower Platte South Natural Resources District

Madison County Emergency Management

Nance County Sheriff's Office

National Resource Conservation Service, Fullerton Office

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District

Region 10 Emergency Management

Sarpy County Emergency Management

Stanton County Emergency Management

United States Geological Survey

West Point Police Department.

Above normal temperatures have continued the melting of the ice in the Lower Platte River and tributaries. The entire river system is flowing virtually free of ice jams causing problems.

Loup River observers report approximately 30% to 50% of open channel surface occupied by floating ice and slush.

Reportings from Elkhorn River sites indicate open channels above and below bridges with moderate, melting ice accumulations at the bridges. Ice cover at Winslow and Scribner is considered to be very thin.with evidence of decay.

The Platte River at the Elkhorn/Platte confluence is reported to have 3 to 6 foot thick ice piled on sandbars with 95 per cent open channel. Other reporting sites indicate open channels of 50 to 95 per cent of open channel with ice pushed up against the banks and piled on sandbars. Much ice movement is reported to have occurred prior to this report.