Mohawk River Icebreakers Mitigate Flooding Risk
Icebreakers Make a Difference
The Mohawk River has been experiencing significant backwater from ice between Lock 8 and Lock 9, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. To mitigate the risk of an ice jam, ice-breaking tugboats have been creating an open channel in the river. This effort has been successful, according to local authorities.
Schenectady Fire Department Keeps a Close Eye
The Schenectady Fire Department has been monitoring the situation closely, with Chief George Burns stating, “So right now, it’s about 210-and-a-half feet above sea level. Any higher and there could be problems. If it starts to reach about 216 or so, we start to get a little concerned there. We start to get some minor flooding a little bit above that, so we start to take some action, make some notifications.”
New York State Canal Corporation’s Efforts
For the last five winters, the New York State Canal Corporation has been sending out icebreakers between Lock 7 and Lock 8. According to Director of Public Engagement Shane Mahar, the tugboats have been out on the Mohawk River almost every single day this season. Mahar explained, “Since they’ve been breaking up the ice up the river from Niskayuna, we haven’t really seen wide-scale flooding. Flooding used to happen on a regular basis after heavy rainfall on the iced-over Mohawk.”
Mitigating Ice Jams and Flooding
The open channel created by the icebreakers is meant to mitigate ice jams and, subsequently, flooding. However, Mahar emphasized that the efforts will not 100% prevent jams. The river’s shallow depth beyond Lock 8 to Lock 9 poses a challenge, as the Canal Corporation cannot send its icebreakers in that direction.
Conclusion
The efforts of the icebreakers have been instrumental in reducing the risk of flooding in the Mohawk River. The Schenectady Fire Department and the New York State Canal Corporation have been working together to ensure the safety of the community. By breaking up the ice, the river is less likely to experience wide-scale flooding, which has been a common issue in the past.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is the purpose of icebreakers on the Mohawk River?
The purpose of icebreakers is to break up the ice on the river, creating an open channel to mitigate the risk of ice jams and flooding.
* How often do icebreakers operate on the Mohawk River?
According to Director of Public Engagement Shane Mahar, the tugboats have been out on the Mohawk River almost every single day this season.
* Can the Canal Corporation send icebreakers beyond Lock 8 to Lock 9?
No, the Canal Corporation cannot send its icebreakers beyond Lock 8 to Lock 9 due to the shallow depth of the river in that area.
