Ice, Ice Baby

April 15, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Northeastern Wisconsin has seen more than its share of ice jams over the years.  According to the National Weather Service, cold snaps followed by a thaw and/or rain can lead to this potentially significant hazard developing along area rivers and creeks.  The melting snow, combined with rains can cause the frozen rivers to swell, which breaks the ice layer on top of the river.  The ice layer often breaks into large chunks, which then float downstream and often pile up near narrow passages in the river as well as near bridges, dams and bends in the river.  In doing a little research, I was amazed to find that the Army Corps of Engineers had categorized at least ten types of river ice.  I guess the more something is studied, the more it leaves the mundane and becomes specialized.