Ice Boom Removal + Park Wherever You Like! (Kind Of…)

You know spring is springing (it doesn't actually spring until March 20th) in Buffalo when two things happen.

And both of those things are happening now!

First, the Niagara Power Authority is starting to remove the ice boom from Lake Erie!  It's certainly not the earliest they've done it (four years ago, the boom came out February 28), but it's a lot earlier than last year (April 20)!

The boom went in late this year too – December 15 – at the outlet of Lake Erie at the Niagara River's entrance.  It's done every year (well, as long as it's cold enough and late enough – typically when the lake is at 39 degrees or less or December 15, whichever comes first) to encourage and strengthen a naturally occurring "ice arch", limiting the amount of ice entering the river.

Meantime, winter parking regulations in the City of Buffalo usually remain in effect until April 1st, but Mayor Byron Brown has lifted the overnight winter parking ban on bus routes.

WooHoo! It's coming!