There have been questions regarding why dynamite is not being used to move the ice jam at Prairie Siding. The reasons for this are as follows:
- Dynamiting ice is very often not successful, only in some specific situations does it work.
- Dynamiting ice can damage surrounding properties and infrastructure.
- Dynamiting ice is a very dangerous undertaking and only very qualified individual do this work.
- If the work moves the ice jam, it is a great possibility that the jam will reform downstream and possibly create even more severe damage. If the river didn’t move the first jam it probably won’t be able to move any subsequent jams.
There have been questions regarding why a tug is not being used to move the ice jam at Prairie Siding. The reasons for this are as follows:
- A tug could not make it to the ice jam from Lake Erie where it would have to start due to the shallow draft of sand bars in the river. Tugs have not in recent memory been able to be used in the river to address ice jams, other than in the river mouth.
- In the past when tugs worked in the river mouth area, they only shortened the duration of the jam event, they did not prevent the event.
- As with dynamite, having the tug break an upstream jam does not mean there won’t be more downstream jams that will create additional damage.
- Downstream breaking of ice jams can seriously endanger a tug crew as dangerous rushing ice and water could result from the work.