Ice declared ‘out’ March 16

Following days of below average temperatures and punctuated with high winds, the ice was declared “out” on Clear Lake Wednesday, March 16.  At that time the lake level was measured as 5.40 inches above the weir at the Outlet, according to Paul J. Fredriksen, superintendent of the Clear Lake Water Department.  “Ice-in” was declared by officials at the Water Treatment Plant on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. Fredriksen noted the average length of ice on the lake (since records began to be kept in 1937) is 125 days; the longest span was from Nov. 23, 1950 to April 28, 1951, 156 days, which corresponded with the latest Ice Out.  The shortest amount of time the lake was ice-covered was from Dec. 19, 1999 to March 6, 2000, 78 days.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.