Continuing moderating weather has greatly eroded the considerable ice formations in the Lower Platte River system. Fortunately the generally cool evening temperatures have slowed the progress of the melt. This freeze/thaw cycle has caused few problems. Currently the ice is generally too thin for safety so thickness could not be measured. Along the Lower Loup "River in the Genoa area there is a good main channel open. Ice is still in the shallows and there is still much rotten floating ice. Near the Highway 81 bridge in the Columbus area the river is still ice covered with water standing on top of the ice. Upstream the river is open near the Burlington Northern bridge. Below Columbus the Lower Platte River has about a 25% open channel near the Highway 15 bridge south of Schuyler. In the North Bend area near the Highway 79 bridge the river is mostly ice covered. Intermittent pools are starting to open up and it looks as if a long channel is starting to form on the north bank. A similar report was made for the Lower Platte River in the Fremont area. Also the ice is visibly rotten and brown in color. Below Fremont there is a small channel about 20%, open until 3 miles above the Highway 64 bridge where the ice cover resumes. At the Highway 92 bridge both channels are 40-50% open with some floating ice. The Elkhorn River is open from the Madison County line to Highway 15 at Pilger which remains ice covered. The ice appears to be slowly breaking up. There is some open water along the north bank but there is a small ice jam 400 yards east of the bridge. Below this point there is 4 to 5 miles of slabbed ice. In the West Point area the Elkhorn has a good open channel above and below the Highway 32 bridge. Near Arlington at the Highway 30 bridge there are intermittent open pools with some water flowing along both shores. Same conditions present downstream near the Highway 36 bridge. Below at the Highway 64 bridge the Elkhorn has two small open channels flowing along both shores. Upstream from the Highway 92 bridge there is 10% open channel. Downstream of the bridge there is about 50-90% open channel. At the confluence with the Lower Platte River there is a 50-75% open channel with some floating ice. The Lower Platte mainstem is open down to the Highway 6 bridge area. Upstream about 2500' there appears to be a large ice bridge about 300' long. There is another ice bridge downstream. These are good open channels below, in between, and above these ice formations. The ice appears to be very deteriorated and water elevation has dropped 2' to 3' since last Friday. Downstream at the I-80 bridge there are good channels on both banks of the river above and below the bridge. There is much rotten, candled ice in the middle of the river with some floating ice in the channels. The mouth of Salt Creek appears almost ice free. Below near Schram Park 90% of the river is open with ice on sandbars. Near Louisville there is a full, open channel on the Cass County side. There is a smaller channel open on the Sarpy County side. Much large floating ice cakes (8' x 8') was reported at this location as well as very rotten ice on sandbars. Below at the Highway 75 bridge near Plattsmouth there is a full open channel with considerable floating ice. Water level appears to have risen. LOWER PLATTE RIVER BASIN
Week 6-Summary Ice Report February 16, 1996