Coast Guard vessels are returning to the Kennebec River to resume ice-breaking operations on Wednesday.
A notice sent out Monday encouraged all residents to remove ice fishing shacks from the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers.
The breakouts will help reduce the risk of flooding as more snow and ice on the river melts.
According to the Coast Guard, the ice breaking is happening earlier this year. A request by the Maine Emergency Management Agency and recent warming temperatures led to the decision to bump the timeline up.
“We basically have perfect tides for the second half of the week,” said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Nichols. “If the weather cooperates, we hope to be done with the entire operation in seven days.”
The same four boats from a January operation, when temperatures were in a prolonged period of intense cold, will be used. The 65- foot tugs Bridle, Shackle and Tackle will begin work on the Kennebec on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, they will once again be joined by the 140-foot Penobscot Bay out of Bayonne, New Jersey.
“It’s been a challenging winter so far. The frigid temperatures early in the season really made a lot of ice,” said Lt. Matthew Odom in a press release. “We’ve been talking to our stakeholders throughout the season and we agreed that now is the time to get that ice broken and flushed out to sea.”
According to Nichols, ice and water conditions will determine how long they can work each day. The larger vessel Penobscot Bay is expected to work up to Richmond, as the 140-foot boat requires a greater water depth. The smaller 65-foot tugs can go as far north as Gardiner.
Once the Kennebec is broken out, the Coast Guard will turn its attention to the Penobscot River and is expected to work up to Bangor.
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