The warmer than average winter weather is leading to rapid melting of Lake Pepin ice.  This should open the door to a good start to the river navigation season on the Upper Mississippi.

The Army Corps of Engineers measured ice depth on March 2nd and found four more miles of open water at the head of the lake.  The ice measured 17 inches at its thickest point which was the same as last week, but many readings were one to four inches less than last week’s reading.

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/IceMeasurements.aspx