Ice Boom Staying In

A few sure signs of spring in Western New York include Bison baseball, seeing certain birds migrate their way back and the lifting of the ice boom. The barrier at the eastern end of Lake Erie helps prevent large chunks of ice from flowing down the Niagara River.

Well, it's been such a cold winter this year that the usual removal date of April 1 will come and go for the ice boom this year. Ninety-five percent ice coverage of the eastern end of the lake is the reason.

The latest that the boom was lifted was May 3, back in 1971. Last year, it was removed on March 25.