(Arnolds Park)– A new warning about ice conditions on the Iowa Great Lakes. This one from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Enforcement officer Gary Owen says thickness varies anywhere from five to 13 inches in very short distances…and that there simply isn’t enough to support the weight of vehicles in many areas. Owen says predictions for 50 degree-plus temperatures over the next two to three days will only complicate matters. He’s highly urging people to keep vehicles off the ice…especially during this weekend’s Winter Games.
Another factor complicating matters this weekend is a lack of snow. Owen says Iowa Code requires atleast a tenth of-an-inch of snow cover in order for snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles to be operated on public property…such as road ditches and trails. As a result, Owen says the machines will not be able to operate anywhere this weekend but on the lakes. Owen says anyone caught operating a snowmobile or A-T-V off the lake will be cited for operating without adequate snow cover…a simple misdemeanor.
