Great Lakes Losing Ice
The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory reports ice cover for all of the Great Lakes combined at around 52%, thanks to milder temperatures and gusty winds over the past several weeks. On March 1, nearly 89 percent of the Great Lakes were covered in ice. In just four weeks, the ice coverage on the Great Lakes has decreased almost in half. Winter is fading in the Northland, as it always does, but markedly faster than the past two years. Lake Erie reports ice coverage at around 69%, Lake Superior at 66%, Lake Huron at 58%, Lake Michigan at 21%, and Lake Ontario at 19%. The Iowa Great Lakes are officially declared ice-free for another season. The ice has been off most of western Lake Superior for a couple weeks now. Ice in the Duluth harbor and lower St. Louis River is going fast.
USCG Proposes LED Lighthouse Lens Replacements
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announced a proposal to remove the Fresnel Classical Lenses from two lighthouses in Duluth, Minnesota, this fall in partnership with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office. The two lighthouses affected are the Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Outer Light and Duluth Harbor North Pier Light. The Fresnel Classical lenses would be replaced with modern light emitting diode (LED)lanterns which are more dependable and energy efficient. Replacing the lenses will reduce the range of the lights slightly.