Options for Management of Dynamic Ice Breakup on the Connecticut River Near Windsor, Vermont

• Main Authors: Ferrick, Michael G, Lemieux, George E, Weyrick, Patrica B, Demont, Warren
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Hydrology; Limnology and Potamology; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Civil Engineering; *CONNECTICUT RIVER; *FLOOD CONTROL; *ICE BREAKUP; BRIDGES; COLD REGIONS; CONTROL; COSTS; DAMAGE; DYNAMICS; FIELD TESTS; FLOODING; FLOODS; FLOW; HYDRAULICS; ICE; ICE FORMATION; MANAGEMENT; OPEN WATER; PEAK VALUES; POWER; PROBABILITY; RECORDS; RELEASE; RIVERS; STABILITY; TURBINES; UNITED STATES; VERMONT; WATER WAVES; WINTER; HYDROELECTRICITY; *Ice management; Potamology; WU003; PE62730A; AST42; Cornish; Midwinter; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA195329; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA195329

The Cornish-Windsor bridge is the longest covered bridge in the United States and has significant historical value. At a large peak flow, dynamic ice breakup of the Connecticut River can threaten the bridge and cause flood damage in the town of Windsor, Vermont. Throughout the 1985-86 winter we regularly monitored ice conditions, including a midwinter dynamic ice breakup on 27 January. We conducted controlled release tests over the operating range of the turbines at Wilder Dam upstream during both open water and ice cover conditions. These data and observations were analyzed in light of more than 60 years of temperature and discharge records. Our analysis indicates that river regulation presents alternatives for ice management that would minimize the probability of bridge damage and flooding during breakup. The flow can be regulated early in the winter to promote the growth of a stable ice cover, minimizing the total ice production in the reach. In the weeks prior to breakup, sustained releases and above-freezing air temperatures cause melting, weakening and gradual breakup of the ice, greatly reducing the flooding potential. Also, it is possible to produce a controlled ice breakup prior to an imminent natural event at lower stage and discharge. All of these ice control alternatives have associated power production costs. Keywords: Cold regions; Field tests; Flood control; Hydraulics; Hydrology; Ice breakup; Ice management; Rivers; River waves.