The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is warning winter outdoor enthusiasts to stay off any ice less than four inches thick – which is pretty rare in much of Minnesota at the beginning of December.
According to the DNR, there really is no sure answer as to when ice is safe. You can’t judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors — plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions.
Ice seldom freezes uniformly. It may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two just a few feet away.
And schools of fish or flocks of waterfowl can also 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 snowmobiles and cars to break through.
The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of new clear ice for any foot travel on frozen water bodies. Tim Smalley, DNR water safety specialist said, “While it’s true that slightly less will support an average adult, four inches gives you a little insurance factor since ice thickness can vary greatly on any frozen lake.”
The DNR reminds parents to caution their children to stay off ponds and streams around their homes that now have a thin coating of ice.
“Many years around the holidays, we receive reports of children falling through ice and drowning, which is just so incredibly tragic,” said Smalley. “Kids are attracted to ice like a magnet. They just don’t have the knowledge of how much ice it takes to support a person nor the understanding of what is or isn’t safe.”
Winter sports enthusiasts can obtain a free packet of ice safety information, including a pamphlet and a minimum ice thickness wallet card, by calling toll-free in greater Minnesota to (888) MINNDNR (646-6367).
Ice safety information is also available by visiting the DNR Web site at www.mndnr.gov.
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