Author(s): Fengbin Huang; Hung Tao Shen
Linked Author(s): Hung Tao Shen
Keywords: River Ice; Ice Related Flooding and Flood Mitigation
Abstract: In 2016 the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe decommissioned and removed the Hogansburg Dam on the lower St. Regis River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River, in northern New York State. The dam removal restored over 555 miles of migratory fish access. During the winter months, ice jams occurred on this river before and after its removal. More frequent breakup ice jam floods occurred in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in recent winters. A two-dimensional numerical model on the ice transport and ice jam dynamics are being used to evaluate pre- and post-dam removal conditions at this site. The study showed that the effect of dam removal decreases as the flow discharge increases, which is typical for spring runoff during ice cover breakup. A potential mitigation scheme for reducing ice jam floods in the Hogansburg area using ice booms is evaluated. Existing methods on breakup forecasts are not able to provide sufficient accuracy for potential ice jam flooding.Historical and recorded past ice jam flooding events and weather conditions are reviewed to aid in the development of a forecasting method for emergency management for potential ice jam flooding.
Year: 2022