The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will start its annual Lake Pepin ice measurements Tuesday, February 11, marking an early indicator of spring to help predict navigational conditions.
The lake’s ice is the last major barrier for vessels reaching the head of the navigation channel in St. Paul.
A Corps survey crew uses an airboat and a global positioning system to collect the data.
The information is used by the navigation industry to predict when it’s safe to break through the ice and begin the 2025 navigation season.
The Motor Vessel Joseph Patrick Eckstein was the first tow to pass Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings, last year and reach St. Paul, arriving March 17, 2024.
Historically, the average date in which navigation is open occurs during the third week of March.
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