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Ice boom installation expected to start Thursday

This is the 56th consecutive year the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom will be installed.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom is scheduled to begin installation for the 2020 - 2021 ice season on Thursday, weather permitting.

The 1.7 mile long boom will be installed near the outlet of Lake Erie, at the entrance to the Niagara River, to reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River. The boom will reduce the potential for ice jams, which can significantly reduce water flow for hydroelectric power production, and cause damage to shoreline properties.

This is the 56th consecutive year the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom will be installed.

For this ice season, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) had requested an earlier start date for the installation of the ice boom, saying the extra installation time "reduces the likelihood of the need for dangerous, late-season installation, while providing time for implementation of any required safe COVID-19 working procedures."

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