LAKE CITY, Minn — Shippers are antsy, as always this time of year, about the Lake Pepin ice pack. They wait weekly for the latest borings by the Army Corps to determine when their Upper Mississippi barges can make it safely through lake for the new season. The latest borings found ice — 11 to 18 inches thick —at seven of 22 evenly spaced sites. That was down from 14 ice-covered sites a week earlier. Individual towing companies determine how much ice their barges can navigate safely. It’s is not uncommon for them to break through 5 to 12 inches. In 2004 the twin screw 5,600 horsepower Reggie G was first. The Reggie G broke through a seven-mile stretch with ice at 17 to 19 inches. It was pushing 12 barges loaded with fertilizer.
Earlier: Lake Pepin ice still impediment to shipping