Rapid Recovery
NYPA and New York State Parks Police Team Up to Retrieve Pontoon from Niagara Waters
Teams from NYPA and New York State Parks Police recently recovered a 30-foot steel pontoon from the Niagara River. The pontoon was part of the Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom and had become dislodged last winter, leaving it stuck among the rocks in the rapids above Niagara Falls.
The amount of water running over Niagara Falls is carefully controlled by the International Joint Commission to balance the joint interests of tourism, energy, shipping, and municipal water supplies. When a window of time opened with low water flows above the falls, crews assembled for the recovery operation, which involved a Parks Police team of swift water divers and a winch. After hours of planning, the recovery operation was completed in just a few hours.
“If the pontoon had become dislodged, it could have been damaged beyond repair and posed a safety issue for maritime traffic in the lower river. It is an important custom piece of equipment for the ice boom, so it is good to eliminate the hazard and return it to service,” explained Michael, a Niagara Civil Engineer and a member of the management team overseeing the recovery operation.
What is an Ice Boom?
Each winter since 1964, the ice boom, which is jointly owned by NYPA and Ontario Power Generation, has been installed near the outlet of Lake Erie to reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River. This helps to prevent ice build-up downstream at the water intakes of their hydroelectric projects. The 8,800-foot boom also lessens the probability of shoreline damage from ice blockage and damage to docks and shore structures.
Installation of the boom begins on or around Dec. 16, or when the water temperature at the Buffalo water intake reaches 39 degrees Fahrenheit. The boom’s removal begins on April 1, unless there is more than 250 square miles of ice on the lake east of Long Point. Use of the boom, which consists of twenty-two spans comprised of 10 pontoons anchored to the riverbed, is authorized by the International Joint Commission.
The work of installing and removing the ice boom—often under dangerous circumstances—is handled by a team of Niagara Power Project General Maintenance mechanics and operators.
The successful recovery of the dislodged pontoon highlights the dedication and expertise of the teams involved in maintaining the ice boom. This critical piece of equipment not only safeguards hydroelectric infrastructure but also protects the natural beauty and safety of the Niagara River and its surrounding areas.