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Ice Fishing on Lake Champlain. Photo/Tom Richardson
State fish & wildlife officials, local first responders, and environmental police throughout New England are reminding ice fishermen and others to use caution when crossing frozen waterbodies. The following was issued by the Connecticut Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection.
How Can You Tell If Ice Is Safe?
Ice is never 100% safe. You cannot judge the strength of ice by its appearance, age, thickness, or the air temperature. Other factors, including water depth, size of the water body, water chemistry, currents, and local weather conditions, all impact ice strength.
New ice is usually stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person, while a foot or more of old, partially-thawed ice may not.
Ice seldom freezes uniformly. It may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two just a few feet away. Continue to check the conditions as you move around on the ice.
Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often dangerous. This is especially true near streams, bridges, and culverts. Also, the ice on outside river bends, and inlets and outlets of lakes and ponds is usually weaker due to the undermining effects of the faster current.
The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process. The extra weight also reduces how much weight the ice sheet can support. Also, ice near shore can be weaker than ice that is farther out.
Booming and cracking ice isn’t necessarily dangerous. It only means that the ice is expanding and contracting as the temperature changes.
General Ice Thickness Guidelines
Image courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
These guidelines are for new, clear (blue) ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or “snow ice” is only about half as strong as new clear ice.
Ice Thickness (in inches)
Under 4″: STAY OFF
4″: Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5″ – 7″: Snowmobile or ATV
Note: It is illegal to drive a car or truck on the ice in Connecticut.
Checking Ice Thickness
Ice thickness can vary over a single body of water; it may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two a few feet away.
Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice. Bring a tape measure to measure the thickness of the ice at regular intervals.
Do not judge ice thickness by how easily a chisel or drill breaks the surface. It happens so quickly that it is easy to overestimate the thickness.
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