Author(s): Fengbin Huang; Hung Tao Shen; Howard Goebel; John I. Garver
Linked Author(s): Hung Tao Shen
Keywords: River ice; Breakup jam; Flooding; Numerical Model; CRISSP2D
Abstract: Breakup ice jam floods are frequent occurrences along the lower Mohawk River between Fonda and Vischer Ferry Dam. This paper discusses the application of a river ice dynamic model to evaluate potential physical ice jam mitigation options: 1. Ice breakers/cutters: Using specialized boats/machinery to physically break up ice cover, providing open water passage to accommodate increased flow and ice discharge. 2. Obermeyer Spillway Gates: Modifying the Vischer Ferry Dam to manage water flows better and potentially “flush out” ice floes. 3. River channel reconfiguration: Modifying the Mohawk River to alleviate “choke points” that result in ice jam formation. Model simulations show that channel reconfiguration could not effectively alleviate ice jam flooding. However, improvements in the design and operation of the Vischer Ferry Dam and maintaining an open channel along the thalweg in the stationary ice cover between the Knolls and the Dam with ice breakers could mitigate the ice jam flooding.
Year: 2024