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By Karla Pomeroy
Editor 

Stay off icy Big Horn River

City of Worland officials to post signs at park, boat dock

 

January 19, 2017

Karla Pomeroy

Footprints that have been seen along part of the icy Big Horn River leading to the free flowing portion of the river at Riverside Rotary Park has city officials concerned about people walking on the icy river. Caution signs warning people to stay off of the ice will be posted later this week.

WORLAND - An icy river is no place for pedestrians. This is the message City of Worland Public Works Superintendent Brian Burky wants to get out to the public.

The Law Enforcement Dispatch Center recently received one call about children being on the icy river and Burky said the city has received two calls about footprints on the ice near Riverside Rotary Park.

Burky said, "Ice over flowing water like a river is often unsafe when ice over static water like a lake is safer. You need at least four inches of ice to be safe to walk on. We don't have that on the river in Worland in most places."

He said some facts about ice include:

-Four inches of clear, newly‑formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially‑thawed ice may not.

-Ice seldom freezes uniformly. It may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two just a few feet away.

-Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often dangerous. This is especially true near streams, bridges and culverts. Also, the ice on outside river bends is usually weaker due to the undermining effects of the faster current.

-The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process. The extra weight also reduces how much weight the ice sheet can support. Also, ice near shore can be weaker than ice that is farther out.

-Flocks of waterfowl can adversely affect the relative safety of ice. The movement of fish can bring warm water up from the bottom of the lake. In the past, this has opened holes in the ice causing people or snowmobiles to break through.

He said the way the Big Horn River flows over and around walks and islands makes it so the ice is not uniform all the way across, which makes it dangerous. He said someone may walk out on the ice and be fine but come back a different route and the ice is thinner and the person could fall through.

He said the footprints on the river ice show people are walking "in the vicinity of open water which is worse than a bad idea."

Burky said he is going to put signage up at Riverside Rotary Park and the boat dock warning people about "thin ice" and to "stay off."

Game and Fish tips

The Wyoming Game and Fish, in offering tips to anglers, discourages anyone from fishing on rivers and or other moving water that has frozen over.

Other Game and Fish tips include:

-For safe fishing, ice should be at least four inches thick. Anglers should take special efforts to check the thickness of the ice every 100 to 150 feet.

-Avoid fissures in the ice and significant sized cracks that can emerge in a lake. Clear ice is stronger than cloudy or white ice, which has frozen, thawed and refrozen and is not always stable. White ice can also be from air bubbles or frozen snow and is much weaker than clear ice. For white ice, double the recommended thickness.

-Fluctuating water levels in reservoirs and wind impact ice conditions and can create dangerous ice conditions. Be aware of recent weather conditions and temperatures and scout out the lake you wish to fish for overflow, wet areas, and open water.

-While ice fishing, prioritizing safety is key to preventing accidental drownings. Game and Fish discourages driving any motorized vehicle on a frozen lake as well as ice fishing on rivers and or other moving water that has frozen over.

The Casper Star Tribune reported Jan. 12 that two people escaped a truck that went through the ice at Boysen Reservoir.

Anglers should never fish alone; always fish with someone else. Remember to wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device and carry an ice pick. To prevent hypothermia if an ice fishing accident does occur, pack an extra set of clothes and hot liquids.

Surviving icy water

If someone falls in icy water, Burky noted that a cold shock response within the first two to three minutes will result in gasping, hyperventilation and panic, and ultimately drowning if the person is not wearing a life jacket.

He said hypothermia survival time with water at 32.5 degrees is exhaustion / unconscious under 15 minutes with survival under 15 minutes up to 45 minutes. For water between 32.5 to 40 degrees the survival time is between 30 to 90 minutes.

 
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