Continuing warmer 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 the ice jam is beginning to break. Near the Highway 81 bridge in the Columbus area the river is open with water moving. Below Columbus the Lower Platte River has about a 80% open channel near the Highway 15 bridge south of Schuyler. In the North Bend area near the Highway 79 bridge the river is 60% open on the north bank. A small channel has opened on the south bank, but is still mostly ice covered, with very little floating ice. In the Fremont area accumulating ice in the Big Island area broke loose approximately 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 20, 1996. This moved down to the Burlington Northern Railroad Highway 77 bridge area and jammed again. This resulted in some local evacuation. At approximately 3:30 PM on February 21, 1996 this ice broke loose and cleared in the Fremont area. The north channel is approximately one third open and flowing at 8-10 miles per hour. Water level has returned to normal. At the Highway 92 bridge both channels are 80-90% open with little ice floating. Ice is still on the sandbars in this location. On the Elkhorn River at West Point there is 100% open channel, with running water and very little moving ice. Some ice sheets are sitting on the sandbars. At Wisner there is an ice buildup covering approximately 75% of the channel. At the Beemer bridge there is an ice buildup with a channel of running water on the south side. At the Dodge/Cuming County lines the ice jam is approximately one mile long. From Arlington south to the Highway 64 bridge the channel is 100% open with little ice flowing. At the confluence with the Lower Platte River there is a flowing channel with ice covering the sandbar areas. This may be a restrictive area. At the Highway 92 bridge there is a 80-90% open channel. In the Union Dike area there is an open channel straight through the middle of the river with local ice and ice from the Fremont breakup piled on the sandbars. The Lower Platte has two channels at Highway 6 area. Downstream from the Highway 6 bridge to the mouth of the Missouri River the Platte remains open with full channels and flowing ice and debris. LOWER PLATTE RIVER BASIN
Week 7 - Summary Ice Report February 23, 1996