From the Niagara Falls Review:
The removal of the Niagara River Ice Boom is well underway.
Personnel from the New York Power Authority began opening the boom’s 22 spans on Tuesday.
As a result of the mild weather conditions this winter season, a significant amount of ice cover on Lake Erie never materialized, making conditions ideal for the ice boom’s removal.
Last year, the boom opening began on April 20. The latest date for the start of the boom opening was May 3, 1971 and the earliest start date was Feb. 28, 2012.