February 12, 2004 – 6^th Report

Summary Lower Platte River Ice Report

Loup River – At the Loup River bridge two miles North of Palmer it is reported 100% ice cover with an occasional opening and 15 inches of snow on the ground from last week’s storm.

Elkhorn River

At the Hwy 30 bridge it is reported 100% ice and snow cover; with no evidence of decay. At the Hwy 64 bridge it is reported 100% ice and snow cover. At the Hwy 92 bridge it is also reported 100% ice and snow cover with no evidence of decay. At the confluence of the Elkhorn and Platte Rivers there is an open channel in the Elkhorn River along the West bank that is 10’ to 110’ wide and continues for about 4000’ upstream. There is also a 10’ to 100’ wide open channel in the Platte River along the East bank that angles across the river in a Southwesterly direction at about Capehart Road for about 1000’. This open channel contains about 25% frazil slush.

Platte River

At the Hwy 79 bridge it is reported there is a small pocket of open water West of the bridge on the North bank. Otherwise the entire river is snow covered ice; with a smooth appearance and no sign of decay. At Hwy 77 it is reported solid ice and snow cover, the ice looks relatively smooth here. At 3.1 miles North of Hwy 64 it is reported 100% intact ice with 1” to 8” of snow cover. Holes were bored in the ice downstream of this location approximately 10,000 feet at Sta. 155+00 (1.1 miles upstream of Hwy 64) the ice measured 10.5” to 21” in thickness. At Hwy 92 bridge it is reported 15” of additional snow in past two weeks, with little or no melting. This puts 21” of snow on the ice. West channel has one small stream of running water on the West side. The rest is snow covered. The East channel is snow covered with small amounts of water standing and running on ice. At a quarter miles North of Fairview Road there is an open channel along the West bank that is 15’ to 30’ wide and approximately 1500’ long. Holes were bored in the ice at this location on 2/11/04; ice thickness ranged from 7” to 13” with 1” to 10” of snow cover. At the Interstate 80 bridge it is reported that as the last two weeks there is a good 30’ to 40’ wide channel along the right bank downstream from the mouth of Salt Creek and extending downstream to the limits of vision. Intact ice is all snow covered. There are some small open leads opening in the middle and to the left bank above the bridges. At Hwy 50 at Louisville the river at this point is the same as last week with river ice covered to limits of vision above and below the bridge. One or two small leads the largest is upstream from the bridge 1/8 mile along the right bank of the mid river island. All is snow covered. At the Cedar Creek Dike the channel remains as last week with a 30’ wide channel along the right bank of the upper dike that crosses to the left bank at mid dike and proceeds down the left side of the river. There are a few open leads this week scattered the length of the area. Almost all intact ice is snow covered at this location with about 20” of snowfall. At Hwy 75 bridge at Plattsmouth it is reported that there is still an approximately 60’ channel along the right bank and a 15’ secondary channel along the left bank. Channels merge and meander below the bridge. Intact ice is snow covered with 18” of snowfall reported here.

Platte River Ice Thickness Measurements:

Along the Union Dike (1.1 miles upstream of Hwy 64) the average thickness is 14.7 inches.

Along the Western Sarpy Dike (approximately 3.1 miles upstream of Hwy 6) the average ice thickness is 10.7 inches.

Along the Western Sarpy Dike (approximately 0.5 miles upstream of Hwy 6) the average ice thickness is 10.9