February 10, 2005-8^th Report

For the week of February 7-11, 2005

Summary Lower Platte River Ice Report

Loup River – At the Loup River bridge four miles north of Palmer the channel is open up to 150’ wide with slush pans covering 75% of the flowing water. Water is very silty in appearance. There are about three to five inches of snow on the ground from the two previous snow events.

Elkhorn River –No reports.

Platte River – At Hwy 79 there is a small open channel on the South bank East of the bridge. There is also a larger channel (varying in width from 100 to 150’) on the North bank at the bridge. This large channel is open up and downstream of the bridge as far as the eye can see. The water has floating slush and/or frazil pans but all water is moving. Some ice piled during break up last weekend and piled in shallow areas or on sand bars. At Hwy 77 there is a small area of open water on the North bank at the bridge, it is not an open channel though. Toward the center of the river there is a large open channel (100 to 125’ wide) with floating slush/frazil pans. This channel is open up and downstream as far as the eye can see. Some ice has piled on sand bars and in shallows during breakup, but does not look to be threatening. At the Hwy 92 bridge both the East and West channels had a large amount of ice move down river on February 5^th during the evening. Fifty to seventy percent of both channels have flowing water with frazil pans. During this reporting period at this location it received a total of 9.5” of fresh snow. Ice breakup is piled on sand bars with snow cover. At Hwy 50 at Louisville full open channels remain, along both banks and in mid-river. There is considerable frazil ice coming downstream. At the Cedar Creek Dike there are good open channels along both banks and in mid-river along the entire length of the levee with considerable floating frazil ice. No obstructions or restrictions to full flow here. At Hwy 75 bridge at Plattsmouth there are good open channels bank to bank, above and below the bridges. There is lots of moving ice with no flow restrictions.