What has been described as one of Maine’s harshest winters is yielding to the change of seasons, albeit slowly, as air temperatures seem in no rush to embrace spring.
As a result, melting has been slow on the lakes and rivers – which is not necessarily a bad thing. Too much melting too quickly, combined with terrestrial runoff, can result in large sheets of ice breaking loose and creating jams where the river narrows, leading to dangerous flooding. In an effort to lessen the likelihood of ice jams, the Coast Guard deployed four vessels to break ice along the Kennebec River from Merrymeeting Bay to Gardiner. This video was taken aboard the 140-foot icebreaking tug Thunder Bay.
April 5, 2024
